Derby win the ball in the Forest half and Tom Lawrence plays a neat one-two with veteran striker Colin Kazim-Richards, but the ball then gets away from them.

Lawrence has been the talisman for Wayne Rooney's Rams, with five goals and two assists in his past 10 Championship games.

The home fans rise to applaud and remember Leo Blower, a young supporter who passed away last week at the age of six.

Not much to shout about at Ashton Gates in term of chances.

But the atmosphere is electric.

Half of the City Ground pitch is covered in winter sunshine, with the rest immersed by a shadow.

It's loud, but then you could probably have guessed that.

Forest string a few passes together in the Derby half before Ryan Yates gives it away.

Sun shining, a freshness in the air and two corking lunchtime Championship derbies.

We're under way at Ashton Gate and the City Ground - let the fun and games commence.

Derby might be in their hour of need but that doesn't stop Forest fans from booing the Rams as they come out of the tunnel - it is a derby, after all!

The home side, led by skipper Lewis Grabban, then emerge to a rapturous applause at the City Ground.

Boy, this is going to be tasty.

Image source, PA Media

Giles Lorimer Turner: I don’t think I’ve been this nervous in the 15 years I’ve supported Derby. Are we going to be liquidated? Will Rooney leave for Everton? Oh yes, and we have Forest to play!

I can imagine, Giles - this is arguably the least important battle of Derby's week.

Rob Phillips
BBC Wales Football Correspondent

It’s only a 45 minute bus trip over a bridge, but it would be no surprise if Cardiff City’s players relished the journey.

The Bluebirds’ home form has been dreadful - the worst in the Championship.

Their best results in a poor season have been on the road and they need something from one of the shortest trips of the campaign - and a ground where they have a good recent record.

New Manchester City loanee Tommy Doyle is poised for a debut in midfield at some stage, with manager Steve Morison looking for more creativity in an effort to move away from the relegation zone.

Morison’s attempt to move away from Cardiff’s direct style has been spearheaded by youngsters. But he is attempting the evolution while fighting a battle against relegation.

After five league games without a win, success in the Severnside derby would be a huge boost.

Richard Hoskin
BBC Radio Bristol

In the absence of Bristol Rovers (Bristol City haven’t met Bristol Rovers in a league game in 21 years) clashes with Cardiff City have become Bristol City’s most keenly contested 'derby' matches in recent times.

Curiously, while the red half of Bristol have won on their past three visits to the Cardiff City Stadium, the Welsh side have won four of the last five meetings at Ashton Gate.

By his own admission, Nigel Pearson’s side are going through transition at the moment. They’ve yet to win back-to-back league games this season, and last weekend they were humbled 6-2 at Fulham.

Slowly but surely, as he approaches 12 months in charge, the City manager is looking to turn things around. The form of youngsters like Alex Scott and Antoine Semenyo (whose two outstanding goals at Craven Cottage were in vain) gives supporters hope moving forward.

And Nigel Pearson’s strong words about Tyreeq Bakinson before his loan move to Ipswich (“he’s a player who unfortunately just wants to play on his own terms”) is further evidence of his determination to only have players who are on board with him.

Commentary of Bristol City v Cardiff on BBC Radio Bristol DAB, BBC Radio Somerset DAB & Freeview 719.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Ashton Gate

Bristol City make two changes from last Saturday’s 6-2 thrashing by Fulham as Rob Atkinson and Chris Martin replace Zak Vyner and Jay Dasilva.

Bristol City: O’Leary; Kalas, Atkinson, Pring; Scott, Massengo, King, O’Dowda; Weimann, Semenyo, Martin.

Tommy Doyle comes straight into the Cardiff City team to make his debut after signing on loan from Manchester City on Thursday.

Marlon Pack is recalled alongside him in midfield as the other change from last weekend's 1-0 defeat against Blackburn.

Cardiff: Smithies; Drameh, McGuinness, Flint, Nelson, Ng; Pack, Doyle, Ralls; Harris, Collins.

Image source, Rex Features

Both Bristol City and Cardiff will be hoping a win in this match will be the catalyst to turn their season around.

The Robins were humbled last time out against Fulham and have suffered three defeats from their last four.

The visitors are nervously looking over their shoulder in 20th having not won any of their past five league matches.

Something's got to give.

There is another game taking place at 12:30 GMT.

Want the details?

How we feeling Forest and Rams supporters? As always you can have your say on all things EFL.

The best way of getting in touch is to tweet using #bbcefl. We'll try and get as many entries as we can into the live text.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

A wealthy US family, based in New England, have made a formal offer to buy Championship club Derby County.

This news has to be seen as a positive for Derby, given that only yesterday the administrators said none of the three interested parties would move forward without the Middlesbrough and Wycombe situations being resolved.

However, question marks remain over the bid. If it doesn't include the stadium, which Mel Morris owns, how do the Binnie family intend to bring the whole club back under one umbrella?

Will this deal with the MSD Holdings loan, which is secured against the stadium? And will it make Middlesbrough and Wycombe even more determined not to abandon their compensation quest?

It will also be interesting to see the reaction of competing bids, led by former chairman Andy Appleby and ex-Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.

For the first time in many days, though, Derby fans have a reason for optimism.

Colin Fray
BBC Radio Nottingham's Forest commentator

Forest approach this game in confident mood, but that’s due to their own form, rather than anything to do with what’s happening down the A52.

There’s a respect for the job being done by Wayne Rooney in difficult circumstances, and an acknowledgment that without the points deduction, Derby would be only a couple of points behind the Reds in the table.

So there’s no suggestion that Forest will be taking Derby lightly. To the contrary. The preparations will have been meticulous as always, but with a focus on what the Reds are doing well.

And with a couple of wins, clean sheets, and very good performances behind them, there’s reason for Forest to approach this, and most games, with optimism.

It's one change for Forest as defender Max Lowe starts for the Tricky Trees for the first time since November.

Nottingham Forest XI: Samba; Spence, Cook, McKenna, Lowe, Johnson, Colbeck, Garner, Yates, Davis, Grabban.

Subs: Horvath, Figueiredo, Zinckernagel, Bong, Dias, Silva, Taylor.

Wayne Rooney makes two changes to his Derby County side that beat Sheffield United last weekend. In come Colin Kazim-Richards and Lee Buchanan.

Derby XI: Allsop; Byrne, Stearman, Davies, Buchanan; Knight, Bird, Thompson; Ebosele, Kazim-Richards, Lawrence.

Subs: Roos, Forsyth, Jozwiak, Morrison, Sibley, Cashin, Plange.

Forest fans are going to Lowe the team news coming up.

Image source, Rex Features

This is a huge East Midlands match-up as Nottingham Forest hope to continue their fine January form, and move to within touching distance of the play-offs with a win.

For Derby, it's a matter of survival - in more ways than one.

On Thursday, the EFL were told the club would run out of cash in February.

And away from finances, supporters will be concerned about the increasing rumours that Everton are interested in poaching manager Wayne Rooney.

Derby could end the day just five points off safety with a win. Getting one over on their rivals will be a ray of sunshine among the dark clouds ahead.

Let's get some build-up.

Only one place to start...

Image source, Getty Images

Let's get straight to it today, we've got two mouth-watering derbies starting in 30 minutes.

And then we'll have a whole bucketful of EFL action from 15:00 GMT.