Danny Butterfield (hamstring) was also pencilled in for the reserve game, but the form of 17-year-old Nathaniel Clyne at right-back means he need not be hurried back.
Forward James Scowcroft (hamstring) is also close to a return, so manager Neil Warnock will soon have some welcome selection dilemmas.
Captain Shaun Derry will again push for a start in midfield after being on the bench for the last two games.
Full-back Lee Hills (knee) and midfielders Carl Fletcher (back) and Neil Danns (ankle) are still sidelined.
Midfielder Paul Green is a fresh injury absentee for Derby.
Green could be out for up to a month after undergoing surgery on two fingers he broke during the Carling Cup victory at Stoke.
The summer signing from Doncaster sustained the problem in the first half on Tuesday night and played on after receiving treatment but was eventually substituted in the 90th minute, shortly before Nathan Ellington's last-gasp winner from the penalty spot.
Rams boss Paul Jewell is already without defensive trio Martin Albrechtsen (calf), Dean Leacock (groin), Claude Davis (hamstring) and midfielder Steve Davies (fractured eye socket).
Two on-loan players - midfielder Nacer Barazite and striker Luke Varney - return to the squad after being cup-tied at the Britannia Stadium.
Varney, along with a third loanee James Tomkins, is in line to make his home debut after making his first appearance for the Rams in the defeat at Burnley last weekend.
Sporting Life.