Derby County will look to strengthen their position in the top six of the League One table on Friday, when they welcome Cambridge United to Pride Park.
The hosts only lead seventh-placed Wycombe Wanderers on goal difference and find themselves nine games unbeaten in England's third tier, while their visitors sit 19th after a Boxing Day win over Shrewsbury Town.
Match preview
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Derby County come into Friday's contest at Pride Park hoping to keep hold of their spot in the playoff places in League One, having gone without a defeat in their last nine matches, although only three of those have been victories.
The last of those triumphs came earlier in December, when, after three consecutive draws against Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Burton Albion, Paul Warne's side hosted Forest Green Rovers and put in a dominant display.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing opened the scoring early on in that contest, and David McGoldrick would add a second in the 20th minute, before he completed a hat-trick in the second half to wrap up the Rams' ninth league win of the campaign.
Aiming to build on that result and put a run of victories together to strengthen their bid for an immediate return to the Championship, Warne's men faced the tough test of a trip to fifth-placed Bolton Wanderers last time out, and the teams shared the spoils as neither were able to break the deadlock.
While that saw them join Barnsley as the league's joint-tightest defensive record, having only shipped 17 goals in League One thus far, the lack of regular victories in recent months has seen them drop to sixth spot and only lead seventh-placed Wycombe Wanderers on goal difference, and they will now be keen to put a run of positive results together to cement their position in the top six.
They meet a Cambridge United side who will arrive with renewed confidence following an important victory last time out, after dropping down the division amid a tough run of form.
Mark Bonner's side enjoyed a relatively positive start to the season, but they would then manage just one victory from their next 11 matches between the beginning of October and mid-December, while only amassing five points in that spell.
Such a run, culminating in a commendable goalless draw at home to Plymouth Argyle, saw the U's sit on just 21 points from 21 matches in the fight at the bottom of England's third tier, before they took on Shrewsbury Town on Boxing Day with the need to return to winning ways to prevent any further fall.
Christian Saydee put their visitors ahead soon after the hour mark in that contest, but Cambridge quickly drew level through Shilow Tracey before Sam Smith netted the decisive goal 15 minutes from time to seal three important points.
Thanks to that turnaround, Bonner's men now sit 19th in League One with a three-point lead over the bottom four, and they will now look to take an impressive scalp and triumph at Pride Park.
Team News
Derby County will likely remain without defender James Chester through injury, and Eiran Cashin should again be joined by Craig Forsyth in the middle of the back four after their clean sheet last time out.
Key forward David McGoldrick, who has netted seven goals in 16 League One appearances since his summer arrival, also missed the Bolton contest with a fitness concern, although he is likely to return to contention on Friday and could come back in to lead the line alongside either James Collins or Will Osula.
Louie Sibley and Korey Smith may again play in makeshift roles on the flanks, with Max Bird joining experienced midfielder Conor Hourihane in the engine room.
Winger Shilow Tracey will be pushing to come into the Cambridge United starting XI on Friday, after he netted the winning goal off the bench last time out.
Sam Smith also got on the scoresheet in his fifth of the season in that match, and he should again lead the line, although Joe Ironside is also vying for a starting berth after hitting 14 league goals in each of the previous two campaigns.
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Wildsmith; Mendez-Laing, Cashin, Forsyth, Barkhuizen; Smith, Hourihane, Bird, Barkhuizen; McGoldrick, Collins
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Mannion; Williams, Okedina, Jones, Dunk; Digby, Worman; Knibbs, Lankester, Tracey; Smith
We say: Derby County 1-1 Cambridge United
Derby County's trouble recently has been turning draws into victories, and although they boast the quality to see off Cambridge United, the visitors will have renewed optimism after their Boxing Day victory, and we fancy them to return home with a share of the spoils.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
