Following a sound start to life in League One so far, Derby County visit Shrewsbury Town at the New Meadow on Tuesday.
Two wins from three and progress in the EFL Cup reflect a bright opening for new boss Liam Rosenior, who now pits his wits against one of the league's most experienced managers.
Match preview
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In a clash of two clubs demoted from the Championship last term, Derby hosted Barnsley on Saturday afternoon, continuing their quest for a return to the second tier at the first attempt.
With both sides expecting to be part of the promotion race, the pressure was on to bounce back from losing yet another away match at Charlton Athletic a week earlier, and the Rams took an early lead at Pride Park before going on to win 2-1.
Derby's defeat at The Valley had marked an 11th loss from 12 away games stretching back to last season, but the East Midlands outfit were able to claim victory at local rivals Mansfield Town in last Tuesday's EFL Cup tie; Tom Barkhuizen scoring the winning goal.
A couple of wins on the spin, then, sets Liam Rosenior's men up for a fixture against opponents they have not met in the league since 1987 - perhaps no surprise, given the historical disparity between the two clubs.
With a similarly unfamiliar trip to Fleetwood Town set for Saturday, Derby are certainly the biggest fish in the League One pond this year, but if they are to escape for clearer waters come May, they must surely take points from both games this week.
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The last time Shrewsbury encountered Derby in a competitive game, they emerged 3-2 winners at Pride Park, in a League Cup tie back in 2011. Though much has changed since then, the Shrews still start as underdogs on Tuesday evening.
Having taken only a point from their first two matches of the new season, without scoring a goal, Steve Cotterill's squad were enduring a sluggish start to their latest League One campaign, but events over the past week have seemingly turned the tide.
Tuesday's EFL Cup win over Carlisle United saw the Shropshire side shrug off their worrying lack of firepower - which had seen them score just once in five previous outings, including friendlies - and after a 3-2 victory at the New Meadow, they went on to topple Wycombe at the weekend.
Down by a goal going into the final half-hour, Shrewsbury pulled level through Matthew Pennington, before Luke Leahy's late penalty earned them a first league win of the season.
Like his opposite number in the Derby dugout, Cotterill has been busy in the transfer market this summer, and has already handed several new recruits their debut, as he searches for a formula that can help the Shrews improve on last term's 18th-placed finish.
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Team News
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Derby are set to secure their 13th summer signing, with former England Under-20 international Joseph Anang agreeing a season-long loan from West Ham United - via current club St Patrick's Athletic - and the 22-year-old will provide backup for first choice Joe Wildsmith.
Another arrival during the transfer window, David McGoldrick could feature for the first time since signing from Sheffield United as a free agent: the Republic of Ireland striker was an unused substitute at the weekend, having missed the Rams' opening games with a hamstring injury.
His international colleague and fellow forward James Collins will lead the line again in midweek, but James Chester remains sidelined by an Achilles issue. In the latter's absence, Eiran Cashin and Richard Stearman continue to deputise in central defence; captain Curtis Davies is still injured.
Shrewsbury, meanwhile, have injury issues of their own, as Elliott Bennett and Aiden O'Brien are unavailable to Steve Cotterill once again.
Despite successfully switching from his 3-4-1-2 formation to four at the back in the final minutes against Wycombe, the Shrews boss will most likely stick with the former setup on Tuesday.
Tom Bayliss could be drafted back into the midfield after being omitted at the weekend, while Daniel Udoh should start up front after recovering from an ankle injury to score for the first time this season in last week's cup win.
Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Marosi; Pennington, Dunkley, Flanagan; Dacosta, Moore, Leahy, Nurse; Bayliss, Shipley; Udoh
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Wildsmith; Knight, Stearman, Cashin, Forsyth; Sibley, Bird, Hourihane; Mendez-Laing, Collins, Barkhuizen
We say: Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Derby County
Signs of life at Shrewsbury could be dimmed by Derby's visit, as Liam Rosenior's reign starts to take shape following a long summer of upheaval. The visitors can boast plenty of experience at a higher level, and have the individual quality to seize the moments that matter.
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Jonathan O'Shea
