Mid-table Derby County host relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town on Saturday as both sides look to bounce back from defeats in their most recent outings.
The Rams are 10 points off the playoff places and 13 clear of the dropzone, while the 20th-placed Terriers are only five points ahead of 22nd-placed Wigan Athletic.
Match preview
© Reuters
Derby County appear set for an underwhelming season as midtable beckons following a patchy league campaign to this point.
The Rams have been a force to be reckoned with at home, with only Preston North End picking up more Championship points at home than Phillip Cocu's side so far this season.
However, Derby have managed just two league wins on the road this term, amassing a measly 11 points from 16 away games - only the division's bottom three have earned fewer.
Three of those 11 points came in Derby's first Championship outing of the season, when they beat Huddersfield 2-1 in Yorkshire in the reverse fixture.
For Huddersfield, an atrocious start to the season that saw the club mired in the relegation zone has given way to some semblance of form and the Terriers have now battled their way to 20th - five points clear of the drop.
However, they were soundly beaten in their last outing as Cardiff City thumped them 3-0 at home, spoiling any momentum gained by their 2-0 win over QPR the game before.
The Terriers have the fourth-worst defensive record in the league, having conceded 51 goals in just 32 games, keeping just seven clean sheets in the process.
Danny Cowley's side will need to tighten up at the back if they are to come away from Pride Park with any points on Saturday.
Derby County Championship form: DWLWWL
Derby County form (all competitions): DLWWWL
Huddersfield Town Championship form: LDWLWL
Team News
© Reuters
Derby manager Cocu has a variety of fitness problems to contend with ahead of the Terriers' visit.
Krystian Bielik is out for the rest of the season and George Evans is expected to be out for another month, meaning that both will miss this fixture.
However, Tom Huddlestone is being monitored as he closes in on a return.
Huddersfield head coach Cowley has several injuries of his own to deal with.
Tommy Elphick is a long-term absentee, while Kamil Grabara, Matty Daly and Collin Quaner are all unavailable.
However, Karlan Grant and Alex Pritchard are both back in training as they return from injury.
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Hamer; Bogle, Wisdom, Clarke, Lowe; Bird, Holmes; Waghorn, Rooney, Lawrence; Martin
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Lossl; Simpson, Stearman, Schindler, Toffolo; Hogg, O'Brien; Kachunga, Smith Rowe, Bacuna; Mounie
We say: Derby County 2-1 Huddersfield Town
Both sides have exhibited patchy form of late and, while Huddersfield are certainly a better side than they were at the start of the campaign, Derby's home record is difficult to ignore.
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