Image source, Rex Features

What will Wayne Rooney make of his first appearance in the blood and thunder of an East Midlands derby? He's certainly got the CV for it, having featured in Merseyside derbies with Everton and Manchester derbies with United.

He's already shown his value to the Rams. They average 1.9 points and a win rate of 57% in the Championship with Rooney in the team compared to 1.3 points and a 31% win rate without England’s all-time record goalscorer.

Derby's excellent form post-Covid-19 restart has put extra pressure on them to come away with a play-off spot, says Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi.

Both teams are immersed in the hunt for a top-six berth, with Forest currently fourth in the table, but three wins, added to two before the break, have propelled the Rams into the mix as well.

"They have played well, they've overcome problems, the coach is doing a great rotation and they have maximum points," Lamouchi told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"For them to be out of the playoffs at the end of the season could probably be a disappointment.

"When you win, you want to win again and you increase the belief and the achievement is clear for them."

Pride Park's stands will remain empty, and silent perhaps most crucially, for the 106th meeting of Derby County and Nottingham Forest.

Coronavirus has forced games to be played behind closed doors, depriving the Rams of the capacity, partisan crowd which has always been fervent on derby day.

Head coach Philip Cocu is unsure how the lack of atmosphere will affect either side, but is well aware of the significance in his second derby experience.

"It's always difficult to predict how the game will be played," Cocu told BBC Radio Derby. "Of course it also depends how Forest enter the game.

"We know motivations will be high because there's a lot at stake for both teams, Without fans it will be slightly different for the players, but it still is a big game."

Image source, Rex Features

Derby make two changes to the starting line-up, with Chris Martin and Craig Forsyth coming into Phillip Cocu's side. Martyn Waghorn and Max Lowe drop to the bench in turn.

Nottingham Forest also make two switches, as Samba Sow and Nuno Da Costa come in with Sammy Ameobi and Thiago Silva named among the substitutes.

Derby: Hamer; Bogle, Clarke, Evans, Forsyth; Rooney, Bird; Holmes, Sibley, Knight; Martin

Subs: Roos, Shinnie, Waghorn, Josefzoon, Lowe, Davies, Malone, Whittaker, Brown

Nottm Forest: Samba; Cash, Worrall, Figueiredo, Ribeiro; Watson, Yates, Sow; Lolley, Grabban, Da Costa

Subs: Smith, Carvalho, Diakhaby, Jenkinson, Semedo, Ameobi, Dawson, Silva, Mighten

Image source, Rex Features

Right then, plenty to come, but our focus is on Pride Park and this East Midlands tussle.

Time for the teams.

Here's what we've got coming up this afternoon:

Apart from the early game between Derby and Forest, all today's matches kick-off at 15:00 BST.

• Derby County v Nottingham Forest (12:30 BST)
• Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United
• Brentford v Wigan Athletic
• Bristol City v Cardiff City
• Fulham v Birmingham City
• Huddersfield Town v Preston North End
• Luton Town v Reading
• Stoke City v Barnsley

Like being treated to a chilli-soaked kebab and a few cold ones as a breakfast offering, this derby should get the old stomach churning nicely early doors.

But it's not the only footballing entertainment on offer today, oh no. It's a rather spicy opening gambit to a full-on feast.

Image source, Rex Features

"It's the mist rolling in from the Trent, at the City Ground... it's walking across Trent Bridge and seeing the floodlights... it's beating them in the 1898 FA Cup final... it's Jack Burkitt in '59, McGovern hoisting the big cups for Cloughie... it's going to Wembley every year while they stay home... it's conquering Europe as they're relegated... it's 'Psycho' charging through and slotting past Shilton... it's Jemmo putting one in the top corner from 20 yards... it's Coops' free-kick and Gary Charles' own-goal as we head for the Prem... it's Darren Huckerby running along the Bridgford End perimeter in celebration... it's Nathan Tyson with the corner flag... it's Rob Earnshaw and the 'A5-2 derby'... it's boyhood Ram Ben Osborn winning it for the Reds in the last minute... it's unbeaten in five since October 2017... it's never losing OUR loving feeling... This is what it means to be Forest."

Image source, Rex Features

"It's standing on a packed out 'Popside' with your dad and grandad... it's black and white.... it's Derbyshire... it's pitmen and Rolls Royce workers... it's Steve Bloomer and Raich Carter... it's Brian Clough... it's Mackay, McFarland, Todd and Hector winning the title... it's beating THEM, the European champions, 4-1 at the BBG... it's Dean Saunders heading past Mark Crossley... it's the Tin Man battling with Psycho... it's us signing Stimac and Asanovic, and them signing Jerkan... it's Carbonari thrashing one in when they're already going down... it's their boss Joe Kinnear saying 'Just another game' and us hammering them 4-2... it's the 'Coffee Cup' and Paul Peschisolido scoring... it's Robbie Savage twirling his scarf around at the Bridgford End... it's Jake Buxton in stoppage time... it's Craig Bryson's hat-trick... it's 'Come on you Rams', and beating Forest. That's what it means to be Derby."

Image source, Rex Features

This is a derby where emotional investment is borne out of birth, where you grew up, where you work, where you live.

There's no glory-hunting to be had here unless you have a working VHS player, you don't sign up to follow either of these teams if you want to swagger around your local in a £50 bit of polyester on a 'Super Sunday'.

It, like many other provincial derbies, comes from the heart. It's two proud cities from the East Midlands, it's a rivalry that outsiders have no place in, but can't help stopping to watch.

Intrinsically linked by Brian Clough and the A52 road which bears his name, split by about 14 miles. It's Derby County v Nottingham Forest, and it means everything.