Preview: Derby County vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Derby County would move to the top of the Championship table with a victory over fellow promotion candidates Wolverhampton Wanderers at the iPro Stadium in Saturday's early kickoff.

The Rams suffered a minor blip recently with back-to-back league defeats that saw them slip out of the automatic promotion places, but they returned to winning ways on Tuesday courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Huddersfield Town.

As a result, they now sit fourth in the standings, one point behind the top two of Bournemouth and Middlesbrough, who face each other later on Saturday.

Steve McClaren will be happy with the timely return to form, particularly as the victory came at home, where they had won just one of their previous five league outings.

The former England boss has a decision to make in terms of who plays in the wide forward roles, however, with Jordan Ibe, Johnny Russell and Simon Dawkins all finding the back of the net against Huddersfield.

He may be tempted into naming an unchanged lineup, however, with no new injury concerns to worry about going into the weekend.

Wolves, meanwhile, would move level on points with the top two if they can pick up the victory, although their vastly inferior goal difference means that they will not end the weekend in the automatic promotion spots.

Kenny Jackett will be looking for a response from his side following their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ipswich Town on Tuesday, their first loss in six league matches.

Still, though, it has been a triumphant return to the second tier of English football so far for the reigning League One champions, and victory this Saturday would really showcase their promotion credentials.

However, they have only won one of their last six matches on the road and just two all season, with four draws to go along with their two away defeats.

The loss to the Tractor Boys last time out came at an even bigger cost as David Edwards was forced off early with a serious knee injury, and Michael Jacobs could be the man to fill the gap in midfield.

Bakary Sako will continue in the side following his nomination for October's Player of the Month award, but recent signing Tomasz Kuszczak is likely to be on the bench again as Carl Ikeme continues in goal.

Recent form

Derby: WLWLWW

Wolves: LDWWDD

Possible starting lineups

Derby: Butland; Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth; Hendrick, Mascarelli, Hughes; Ibe, Martin, Russell

Wolves: Ikeme; Doherty, Batth, Ebanks-Landell, Rowe; McDonald, Evans, Henry, Jacobs, Sako; Clarke

Sports Mole says: 1-1