Four players could return for Preston as Derby boss Paul Jewell considers recalling Rob Hulse.
Quartet return for North End, Hulse in contention for Rams
Four players could return for Preston as Derby boss Paul Jewell considers recalling Rob Hulse.
Both sides have struggled for consistency of late with Derby slipping into the bottom half of the Championship table and Preston just outside the play-off places.
Defender Billy Jones, midfielder Richard Chaplow and strikers Neil Mellor and Stephen Elliott are all expected to be available again for Preston after missing Saturday's 3-2 defeat at QPR through illness and injury.
Full-back Jones was among the substitutes at Loftus Road but did not play as a precaution after recovering from a hamstring problem.
Chaplow did not travel because of fears he might infect the rest of the squad with a virus while Mellor and Elliott were not considered fully fit.
Manager Alan Irvine should be able to recall the quartet but goalkeeper Wayne Henderson and defenders Liam Chilvers and Neal Trotman are still not ready to be considered for first-team selection.
Derby news
Striker Hulse was a substitute against Watford on Saturday having only recently recovered from a bout of illness, but climbed off the bench to head the goal that gave the Rams a 1-0 victory.
Should manager Paul Jewell opt to start with Hulse at Deepdale either Nathan Ellington or Luke Varney, who Hulse replaced against the Hornets, would drop down to the bench.
On loan Arsenal winger Nacer Barazite played an influential part in Hulse's goal at the weekend after also coming on as a substitute and the Holland Under-19 international will also be hoping for a recall.
Ruben Zadkovich is another option should Jewell wish to freshen up his midfield.
Derby have already won at Deepdale this season. Paul Green's goal gave the Rams a 1-0 win in the Carling Cup second round at the end of August.
