Buxton missed the 4-1 home win over Blackpool on Saturday as he served a one-match suspension for the red card he received in the defeat at Peterborough.
Manager Nigel Clough must decide whether to restore Buxton to his starting line-up or stick with the central defensive partnership of Richard Keogh and James O'Connor that performed so well against the Tangerines.
Elsewhere, forward Jamie Ward will miss a seventh straight npower Championship fixture with a hamstring injury and goalkeeper Frank Fielding (groin) will be absent for the sixth game in a row.
Teenage striker Mason Bennett, 16, scored two goals for Derby's Under-18 side at the weekend and could earn a place in the squad.
Barnsley have been dealt an injury blow with midfielder David Perkins set to be sidelined for up to six weeks following the recurrence of a hamstring injury.
Perkins sustained the problem early in the first half of Saturday's defeat at Hull and will be sidelined for between four and six weeks.
But fellow midfielder Jacob Mellis is hoping to return to contention after having an injection to aid his recovery from the knee injury which kept him out at the weekend.
Central defender Jim McNulty is pushing for a recall to the starting line-up following his long-term hamstring problem and could be an option for manager Keith Hill, who might want to rest teenager John Stones.
Winger Jim O'Brien also returned to the bench at the weekend following a dislocated shoulder and could also make his comeback.
The Tykes have won only one of their last seven league matches and are three points above the bottom three.
