Sheffield Wednesday make the short trip to Derbyshire on Saturday with only long-term victim Richard Hinds missing through injury. Midfielder Jimmy Smith is the only other definite absentee as he serves the final game of his 4-match ban following his dismissal against Birmingham City.
The main decisions for boss Brian Laws will come at right-back and in attack. Lewis Buxton limped out of the win against Doncaster last weekend to be replaced by Tony McMahon while USA international Frank Simek came through 75 minutes for the reserves in midweek. Simek must be closing in on making his first start of the season and so all three could be in contention.
Up front Leon Clarke looks likely to retain his place as he is in good scoring touch. Wednesday could go with one up front with Marcus Tudgay in a deeper role or they could opt for 4-4-2 with Tudgay, Akpo Sodje and Francis Jeffers being the options to partner Clarke. Jeffers missed out entirely last Saturday through illness but played for 90 minutes for the reserves on Tuesday evening, as did Sodje.
Derby could include former Sheffield United striker Rob Hulse in attack with another ex-Blade, Claude Davis likely to play at centre-back as both Martin Albrechtsen and Dean Leacock are expected to miss out through injury.
Striker Emanuel Villa scored in the midweek Carling Cup victory over Leeds and is likely to keep his place in the side if he can prove his fitness.
Owls keeper Lee Grant and striker Marcus Tudgay, along with the out of favour Deon Burton, will all be looking to put one over their former club as Wednesday look to improve on an away record that has seen them beaten five times in eight outings.
The two sides met in the F.A. Cup last season with the Rams eventually progressing on penalties after two drawn games. Derby did the double over Wednesday in the 2006/07 season on their way to promotion but were beaten twice by the Owls in the previous campaign.
Derby, perhaps suffering a hangover from their shocking Premier League campaign last season, got off to a slow start but have only lost two of their last twelve league fixtures and are unbeaten in the last six league games at Pride Park.