Huddersfield pair Sean Scannell and Joel Lynch face late fitness tests.
Striker Scannell, a summer signing from Crystal Palace, missed the draw at Ipswich last time out due to a hamstring injury, while defender Lynch, signed from Nottingham Forest in July, is struggling with an Achilles problem.
Calum Woods replaced Lynch in the closing stages at Ipswich and is likely to step in if required.
Midfielder Oscar Gobern has been short of match fitness after taking a knock earlier in the season and has yet to make a league appearance for Huddersfield this season, but winger Danny Ward (ankle) made his first start at Portman Road.
Latest signing Adam Hammill, on loan from Wolves until January, stepped off the bench against Ipswich and is pushing for a place in the starting line-up as Simon Grayson's side chase their second home league win of the season.
Derby will check on the fitness of midfielder Paul Coutts ahead of the trip.
The Rams resume Championship action on Saturday following the international break but Coutts has been laid low by a touch of flu and has done very little training during the first part of this week.
Manager Nigel Clough hopes the 24-year-old summer signing from Preston will be able to take his place in the starting line-up.
"Paul's got a heavy bout of the flu, so we're trying to keep him away from the rest of the squad as much as we can as we certainly don't want it spreading," Clough told the club's official website. "We'll see how he is come Friday and Saturday, but he'll be given every chance to be available."
Gareth Roberts (hamstring) was replaced in the latter stages of the 5-1 home win over Watford prior to the international break, but Clough confirmed the veteran left-back has suffered no ill effects in the intervening two weeks.
Forward Jamie Ward, midfielder Jeff Hendrick and defender Kieron Freeman have all returned unscathed from international duty but teenage striker Mason Bennett faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a thigh strain while playing for Derby's Under-21 squad last weekend.
