Shot from the edge of the Forest box by Nathan Byrne is dragged harmlessly wide.

Nice build up though from the home side, who are starting to tick a bit quicker in midfield. Slightly.

Also, I think Mark G [19:58 GMT] has forgotten some of the battles Pearce and McMinn had. I think it was an honourable draw over the piece.

Certainly by today's standards, X-rated.

Anthony Knockaert curls in the set-piece but Matt Clarke commandingly heads away, and Forest's snap shot from the edge of the box by Luke Freeman is deflected behind by Glenn Murray for a goal kick.

Still yet to get going really this. Still in low-key mode.

Break in play briefly as Cyrus Christie, a Ram turned Red, stays down after an aerial challenge with Lee Buchanan. No intent or foul.

Then the first real challenge from Jason Knight, on Yuri Ribeiro. Through him. Now Forest have a chance.

Free-kick, left-side.

Forest very sloppy in midfield as Cafu dawdles and is robbed and Derby are away.

Jason Knight scampers toward the edge of the box but the ball down the right channel for Nathan Byrne rolls tantalisingly over the byline as the Rams defender chased it down.

Missed opportunity there. Might Knight have let fly?

Image source, Rex Features

Forest dicing with danger as they knock the ball about at the back.

Colin Kazim-Richards rattles into Reds defender Joe Worrall and gives away a free-kick.

A reverse reducer there. Aren't centre-halves supposed to give it out the other way?

Luke Freeman wins a Forest free-kick after he's bundled over by Nathan Byrne just in the Derby half but Anthony Knockaert's delivery is easily dealt with by the Rams defence.

Even-steven so far.

Mark G: A Stuart Pearce 'cruncher' on Ted? Ted would have crushed him like a fly.

Matt Clarke yomps forward for Derby from centre-half, but as he nears enemy territory, a slide-rule pass forward rolls behind for a goal-kick to Forest.

Reds look to pick out Luke Freeman on the left, but the ball is overhit and goes behind.

Freeman and Anthony Knockaert are the creatives for Forest, the magicians capable of providing a bit of quality. Derby know it too, given their defensive shape when Forest are on the ball.

Image source, PA Media

What this needs is a cruncher, a Stuart Pearce on Ted McMinn, or a Paul Blades on Gary Crosby to liven it up.

Derby looking tidy in possession, but Forest pressing as soon as they get closer to the penalty area.

Lee Buchanan and Nathan Byrne out wide pushing forward look to be the key outlets in support of the front line so far.

Kit Harrison: Matt, thousands of kids my age grew up and came through school while Man Utd swept up every silverware going in the 90s, while Man City were absolute bobbins. Now the tables have turned you'd best believe we are loving it.

It's not the same this.

You can hear the players shouting at each other and that, but without the crowd, it's just lacking something. Hopefully, the players can create a bit of a buzz.

Derby break swiftly, Colin Kazim-Richards touching off nicely to Kamil Jozwiak, but after the cross from Nathan Byrne goes in, Kazim-Richards is offside.

Early exchanges see Martyn Waghorn get a cross in from the right which is easily mopped up by Forest defender Joe Worrall.

Rams sweeping the ball forward quickly, setting the tone.

Image source, Rex Features

All the chatter, the jabber and the phony war is done.

Pleasantries, in the loosest sense of the word, complete.

Now we're up and running.

Referee Oliver Langford will attempt to keep the peace.

The Brian Clough Trophy is up for grabs, those cliched 'bragging rights' too.

BBC local radio

Whether you're a proud Ram or a Tricky Tree tonight, we are sorry we can't give you an audio accompaniment tonight because of rights issues.

You can get commentary if you're in the BBC Radio Derby or BBC Radio Nottingham transmission areas, of course.

Image source, Getty Images

Six goals since his arrival at Pride Park have made Colin Kazim-Richards a popular figure in Derby's side and also earned him a deal for next season.

The well-travelled striker has added a sharpness to the Rams forward line, and impressed boss Wayne Rooney.

"His performances have been excellent," Rooney said.

"His character and leadership in the dressing room has been infectious and it was important that we tied him down for another year as quick as possible."

Image source, Getty Images

Even at 37, Glenn Murray is still making life awkward for centre-halves and has been an impressive acquisition for Forest boss Chris Hughton.

Having worked with him at Brighton, the Seagulls reunion has also seen Anthony Knockaert and Gaetan Bong brought in.

The shrewdness of veteran Murray will be a task for Andre Wisdom and Matt Clarke in the Rams back-four tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

There's as much focus on matters off the field at Pride Park as there on the turf, with a takeover continuing to rumble on.

BBC Sport's Simon Stone has been looking into why, four months on, the Rams are still in limbo.

Tap, click, jab, whatever, here to read his piece.

Under Wayne Rooney, Derby County have hit a purple patch with six wins from eight games to lift themselves away from the bottom three.

Forest have also discovered some continuity and results under Chris Hughton and have propelled themselves up the table. A win tonight would be a third in a row.

Neither will be too chuffed to be stuck down there with ambitions very much higher up the table, but things are looking much brighter on both counts.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a fixture to forget for Derby County in recent meetings regards victories against their rivals, with a run of seven games without a win.

Four of those to be fair were draws, and in particular a late, late equaliser from Chris Martin back in July 2020 which earned a point, and seemed to completely unravel Forest's promotion push.

Equally, Forest have won just two of their last 17 visits to Pride Park... though one of those was a 2-1 success - with the winner coming from boyhood Ram Ben Osborn.