Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at Pride Park

Image source, Owen Phillips

Many folk really object to the leaving of flags to build up the atmosphere, but it's hard to why when it generates such a noise and tees things up nicely.

Image source, PA

Dan Mason: It's very difficult to call a winner from tonight's game, let alone the winner of the Championship play-offs. All former Premier League teams, all with enough quality to compete with England's 'elite'. Should be a cracker.

Eddie Oliveria: Fulham to win the tie, probably penalties as they are two very even sides. Fulham v Boro in the finals with Boro nicking it late.

The players walk out of the tunnel, in to a sea of waving white flags.

Here's a quick reminder of the two starting XIs:

Derby: Carson, Forsyth, Keogh, Lawrence, Wisdom, Johnson, Weimann, Vydra, Jerome, Davies (c), Huddlestone.

Fulham: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett, McDonald, Johansen, Cairney (c), Ayite, Mitrovic, Sessegnon.

Image source, Getty Images

If these two sides play out a repeat of their two league games from earlier this season, Fulham would advance to 26 May's play-off final, 3-2 in aggregate.

They drew 1-1 at Craven Cottage in November, before Fulham enjoyed a 2-1 win at Pride Park in March.

Chris: Hopefully this and the next leg are the two games in his entire career that Sessegnon has an absolute stinker. Even without him though, Fulham are so impressive going forward and in the middle. Super nervous Derby fan.

Emyr Evans: Cheeky feeling about Derby... feel as though they MUST go in the offensive tonight, they have momentum after the season's end and Fulham will be deflated after defeat by Birmingham. Honestly, can see the Rams riding their wave all the way to the Premier League.

Get in touch using #bbcefl on social media.

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at Pride Park

Image source, Owen Phillips

It's cold, dreary and a far cry from much of the past week weather wise.

But there's plenty a sunny smile to be seen among the home fans as they make their way into Pride Park.

Two wins from their previous two fixtures and that poor run is long forgotten right?

Olivia (left) and Poppy probably won't remember too much about the game anyway, but they seemed intent on enjoying the whole experience.

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic:

"We have showed ambition, quality and self-belief many times in the regular season.

"Our season was fantastic and many teams want to be in the position we are. In the middle of December nobody believed we would be in the position to fight for the Premier League.

"We have three games ahead of us and we have great confidence. We must be ready to keep going and cross this line."

Image source, Getty Images

Derby boss Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Derby:

"People talk about Derby and this weight of expectation that always floats around and follows a club.

"So maybe this is the first time they've been in the play-offs in recent years where there is no expectation, and where we can go out and give it everything without any real fear.

"Fulham are the favourites for the play-offs, if you look at the odds, and we're probably the least-fancied team, so maybe that gives us something to prove."

Next, let's have a quick look back at what both managers had to say about their side's chances, when speaking during the week in the build-up to this big, big game.

Sam Parkin
Former Swindon forward on BBC Radio London

A draw would be good for Fulham. They will go for the win but ultimately will be happy with that. The defeat against Birmingham showed how imperative it is to get the first goal. Scoring first tonight will leave gaps for Fulham to exploit.

Their intricate passing style sometimes makes it difficult to break down teams who sit back.

I must admit I am surprised Derby made it into the play-offs because they were really lacking in confidence when I saw them in their bad run a few weeks back, but Gary Rowett has been rewarded for being bold in changing their system and they play more on the front foot now.

Jason Land: Derby v Villa final. Villa win on the 36th anniversary of winning the European Cup. (Yes we've won it but no, we don't like to mention it.)

Ifan Wyn Roberts: I reckon Fulham will win but it would be nice to have someone who hasn't been in the Premier League for a bit like Derby.

Derby's injured striker Sam Winnall has been banging the drum for a Rams victory on BBC East Midlands Today...

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Image source, Getty Images

Tomorrow is a busy day in the play-offs across the Championship, League One and League Two, with four games in all, including Middlesbrough v Aston Villa (17:15 BST).

Then all of the 12 sides involved across the three divisions are in second-leg action from Sunday onwards.

You can view this season's full English Football League play-off schedule by clicking here.

This is Derby's seventh second-tier play-off campaign, with only Ipswich Town (8) having taken part in more.

But the Rams have only won promotion once in their previous six second-tier play-offs efforts, celebrating promotion in 2006-07.

Fulham have not won any of their six previous play-off games, after three unsuccessful two-legged semi-finals, including last season's 2-1 aggregate loss to Reading at this stage.

Image source, Rex Features

Fulham endured a somewhat subdued start to the season, winning just four of their first 17 league games.

However, they picked things up in November, before starting a remarkable unbeaten run after 16 December.

The London club went 23 games without a league loss until the final day of the season, boosted by the superb form of youngster Ryan Sessegnon, midfielder Tom Cairney and the clinical finishing of January loan signing Aleksandar Mitrovic.

But their superb march up the table towards an automatic promotion spot fell just one game short, as they were beaten at Birmingham on Sunday to ensure they would face the play-offs, missing a final-day chance to pip Cardiff to second spot.

Image source, Getty Images

Derby looked like safe bets for at least a play-off spot throughout much of the campaign, before a winless eight-game streak saw them start to wobble in February and March.

Then, in April, three defeats in a row - including a surprise loss at Burton - meant the Rams appeared set to endure a repeat of their late-season struggles that have plagued some recent campaigns.

But then Cameron Jerome's double helped them to a huge win over Cardiff, before a draw at Aston Villa and a comfortable final-day victory over Barnsley saw Gary Rowett's men get over the line to secure sixth spot.

Owen Phillips
BBC Sport at Pride Park

Image source, Owen Phillips, BBC

Derby didn’t see fit to leave any black and white flags out for the visitors today.

It would have worked - in a sense - to be fair.

These two sides may be unified in kit colour, but there's nothing black and white when it comes to predicting the outcome of a play-off tie like this.

As ever, you can have your say on tonight's game using #bbcefl on social media.

Which club do you think will win the Championship play-offs?

Fulham also make just the one change, with Floyd Ayite starting after fully recovering from a hamstring issue.

The visitors have a full-strength squad available.

Fulham: Bettinelli, Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett, McDonald, Johansen, Cairney (c), Ayite, Mitrovic, Sessegnon.

Subs: Button, Kalas, Christie, Norwood, Kebano, Piazon, Kamara.

Derby make one change, as the Championship's top scorer Matej Vydra returns to the starting side.

Marcus Olsson misses out for the Rams, and it's bad news for him and the club because he has sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage to his left knee.

Derby: Carson, Forsyth, Keogh, Lawrence, Wisdom, Johnson, Weimann, Vydra, Jerome, Davies (c), Huddlestone.

Subs: Roos, Palmer, Anya, Pearce, Hanson, Nugent, Ledley.