WE look set for another intriguing showdown between East Midlands rivals Derby County and Nottingham Forest at the City Ground tomorrow (kick-off 1pm).

The clubs will meet for the fourth time this year and the Rams enjoyed the previous three much more than the Reds.

Paired together in the fourth round of the FA Cup, the teams drew 1-1 at Pride Park Stadium in January.

Rob Hulse read Paul Green's brilliant dummy and swept the ball past Paul Smith from 10 yards to put Derby ahead only for former Rams striker Robert Earnshaw to equalise in the second half.

Smith's wonderful save from Hulse's header late on took the tie to a replay in early February.

And what a replay it was.

Whirlwind Forest stormed into a two-goal lead in 14 minutes and the Rams were reeling, but they steadied themselves to hit back in great style.

Hulse headed in before the break and Green also scored with a header in the second half before Kris Commons provided the perfect story line. The ex-Forest winger silenced the boo-boys by firing in Derby's winner.

Confidence boosted by their memorable 3-2 win, Derby returned to the banks of the River Trent 17 days later for a league game.

Lewin Nyatanga gave them an early lead and further goals from Hulse and Steve Davies, a penalty, secured a fully-deserved 3-1 victory.

Derby go into tomorrow's tussle knowing they can win in Forest's backyard, as they proved on two occasions in February, but Forest will be doubly determined – if that is possible in a derby clash – to avoid a hat-trick of home defeats at the hands of the Rams.

"I'm sure they'll be a little bit more determined than normal because of the results we got there last season and also the fact they are looking for their first League win of the season," said Rams manager Nigel Clough.

"I think that will give them added motivation, certainly.

"You don't need it but having won twice there last season and having scored three goals on both occasions, those Forest players who were part of it will be hurt a little bit more than usual."

The two wins at Forest provided two of the highlights of last season for Derby.

"The cup one, certainly, having gone two goals down," said Clough.

"The manner in which we played that night was as good a performance as we have put in, despite conceding two goals.

"The League win there was similar to the one at Plymouth a couple of weeks earlier, unspectacular but one of those where you put your chances away.

"We didn't have 10 or 12 chances but we put away a high percentage of the ones we did have which always helps in local derbies when it is tight.

"It's not very often you score three at your local rivals, to do it twice is unusual.

"It would be lovely to do it again but I was reading an article from Rafa Benitez the other day when he said about Liverpool putting five past Aston Villa last season and how it would be nice to do better – Liverpool lost 3-1 at home to Villa on Monday night!"

Derby have taken four points from their last two games by drawing at Blackpool and beating Plymouth.

Clough would like to see his team stretch the mini run to three games unbeaten ahead of the two-week international break.

Forest beat Middlesbrough 2-1 after extra-time in the Carling Cup on Tuesday and Davies insists his side are on the verge of inflicting some painful defeats.

"Very shortly, one or two teams will suffer big losses at the hands of this team," he said. "We should be sitting here with more points. Our performances have deserved more points."

Clough is aware of the warning from Davies.

"I think he's on record as saying how well they (Forest) are playing at the moment and it's only a matter of time before somebody takes a good hiding from them. I hope it's not us but I'm sure they would love that to be against us," said Clough.

"The game means an awful lot to the supporters. It's our local rivals and it would be nice to come away from the City Ground unbeaten going into the break.

"Our supporters came back down the A52 last year for the first time in a long time with a win.

"We would certainly like to send them home happy again."