Fulham finally turn some of their dominant possession in to some goalmouth action, but Floyd Ayite heads wide from a difficult angle.

Image source, Reuters

The team to finish sixth in the Championship has won promotion via the play-offs in just one of the past 12 seasons - Blackpool in 2009-10.

Are the odds against Derby this season?

When Fulham have the ball, they're being very patient with it. There are of course still 160 minutes or so left of this tie - at least.

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at Pride Park

A swift counter-attack by Derby a few minutes ago perfectly illustrates the threat posed by the hosts.

Some risky passing in the Rams defence paid dividends and Tom Lawrence steamed away, got a fortunate break with the bounce of the ball and should have done better with his final pass when his side were three on two and Fulham were panicking.

A warning for Fulham. Derby are now settling into the game.

Image source, Reuters

Slavisa Jokanovic's side are stroking the ball around and have had far more possession in these early stages, but Derby look the more dangerous when they do get forward.

Derby have several men in the box, as Bradley Johnson clips in a cross, but Ryan Sessegnon clears.

Fulham keeper Marcus Bettinelli punches Tom Lawrence's cross clear from the free-kick.

Image source, Reuters

Tom Lawrence, by the way, is back on after receiving treatment earlier.

And the Derby man has just won a free-kick, in a dangerous position near the corner flag.

Derby nearly do just that, as they break quickly on the counter, and Matej Vydra plays in Cameron Jerome down the right, but again the offside flag is up against the former Norwich and Birmingham man.

That's another very close one.

Fulham are seeing a lot of possession, just as they have done in most of their games this season.

Derby are going to have to try and use the ball as well as possible, when they do get it back.

Image source, Rex Features

As both sides look for an opening goal at Pride Park, here's more on the news that Derby will be without left-back Marcus Olsson for the rest of the year...

There's some concern for Derby, as midfielder Tom Lawrence receives treatment for a knock to his knee.

Derby think they're through on goal, one-on-one, but Cameron Jerome is adjudged to be offside.

However, replays show he was clearly ONSIDE. Fulham have got away with one there.

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at Pride Park

Well if the respective teams aren't inspired by that build-up then there's something drastically wrong.

And that's exactly the way it has started. Fast and furious and a couple of flying challenges already.

Derby's recent change to three at the back has seen them more positive and committing more players forward. Fulham are bossing possession though. Derby are nice and compact but struggling to get the ball at the moment.

Image source, PA

Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegnon has the first shot of the game, on his right foot from the right side of the penalty area, but he fires over the bar.

The visitors have started pretty well.

There's an early shout for a Fulham penalty, as the ball hits Curtis Davies on the arm, but the officials feel there was nothing in it. I'm not sure it was deliberate, or necessarily inside the box either.

This is the first meeting between these two clubs in the play-offs. Who can find the first goal?

It looks like Derby have started with three at the back, despite wing-back Marcus Olsson's injury.

Image source, Reuters

The visitors Fulham, in their changed black shirts and white shorts, get this tie under way.

Image source, Rex Features

Both sides are gathering for one last huddle. Kick-off is up next.

Derby finished 13 points behind Fulham in the table, yet arguably it's the sixth-placed Rams who arrive at this first leg with slightly more momentum.

Gary Rowett's men took seven points from their final three games, including two home wins.

In contrast, Fulham, having been beaten at Birmingham on the final day, arrive at this tie just five days after their first league defeat since 16 December.

But their run of 23 games without loss prior to that - which included an impressive 18 wins - shows they've been in the far better form since Christmas overall.