Disarrayed, disillusioned and in deep trouble, Derby County are to host Huddersfield Town on Saturday in what could prove to be an opening day classic at Pride Park.
It's proven to be a summer of concern for the Rams, who have been plagued by financial trouble with major questions continuing to be asked of their under fire owner, Mel Morris.
On Saturday they begin their 2021/2022 campaign, as they entertain Huddersfield Town in Derbyshire.
Both sides struggled in the Championship last season, narrowly avoiding relegation in 21st and 20th respectively and both will be keen to open their new campaigns with three points.
Form guide
Wayne Rooney's Derby have had a proactive pre-season on the field and come into the weekend's clash off the back of consecutive wins over Real Betis and Notts County which will surely put them in good stead for Saturday.
The Rams managed to keep clean sheets in both these games and will be able to take a handful of positives out of their pre-season action, despite the aforementioned uncertainty occurring off the pitch.
Unlike their opponents, Carlos Corberan's Huddersfield side didn't participate in a friendly last weekend, instead, they were one of only two Championship sides who opted to move their Carabao Cup first-round match from its usual midweek slot to the weekend before the season.
In doing so, Huddersfield have already started their competitive season and will be brewing with confidence after a fine display last Sunday, as they edged out Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday to advance to the second round on penalties. There was a real competitive edge to their showdown with the Owls and this may give the visitors an advantage on Saturday.
Team news
Despite the off-field controversy, Derby are expected to be able to choose from their senior players, for the game. However, it remains unclear whether the handful of trialists who've turned out for the Rams in pre-season will sign in time for the game, or even sign full stop.
Four players Wayne Rooney won't be able to call on are Lee Buchanan, Kornell McDonald, Jason Knight and Krystian Bielik, the quadrant are all currently sidelined with injuries.
Huddersfield Town also have injury concerns to negotiate in the build-up to the weekend, amongst the most notable absentees for Carlos Corberan's side will be trio Aaron Rowe, Rolando Aarons and Pipa. Striker Fraizer Campbell will be available for selection, however.
Carlos Corberan may opt to remain unchanged from the side that were victorious in the Carabao Cup on Sunday, with perhaps the biggest dilemma he faces being who gets the nod in between the sticks, after backup Lee Nicholls put in a fine display, potentially doing enough to retain his place for the league opener.
Predicted lineups
Derby:
Roos; Williams, Forsyth, Cashin, Byrne, Bird, Shinnie, Lawrence, Sibley, Jozwiak, Kazim-Richards.
Huddersfield:
Nicholls, Turton, Pearson, Colwill, Toffolo, Hogg, O'Brien, High, Koroma, Holmes, Rhodes.
Previous meetings
Derby have had the edge over Huddersfield in the team's previous five meetings, with two wins, two draws and one loss which came away at the John Smith's Stadium last season.
When the side's last met in February, goals from the now-departed George Edmundson and Martyn Waghorn earned the Rams a 2-0 win over the Terriers, a result that went a long way to securing their survival.
Ones to watch
Arguably the star performer in pre-season for the Rams, the 2021/22 season promises to be a crucial campaign for Derby's academy graduate Max Bird, who has established himself as a first team player at Pride Park in recent seasons. The 20-year-old brings undoubted quality to the Rams' midfield and is a player surely destined for the Premier League in the future.
Saturday will pose a challenge for Bird, who will have to be at his best if he's to combat the threat of Huddersfield's lively midfield, which should include another player destined for the top-flight in Leeds United linked Lewis O'Brien. A tasty midfield melee could be on the cards in Derbyshire at the weekend.
A player who won't need much motivation for the clash this weekend is Huddersfield's versatile star Duane Holmes, who swapped Derby for Huddersfield back in January.
The 26-year-old didn't enjoy a harmonious relationship with Derby boss Wayne Rooney, which culminated in Holmes forcing through a switch to West Yorkshire in the winter. The USA international will crave for a standout performance at the weekend to compile the misery on his former boss and team after their challenging summer.
How to watch
Due to 15:00 BST games on a Saturday no longer being streamed in the UK, after a return to the pre-COVID streaming regulations, the game won't be available to watch for supporters within the UK. The game will be available for overseas customers through both teams' streaming services, with match passes costing £10.