DERBY County players have been told there are still places up for grabs as they go into their final first-team match of pre-season against Premier League side Birmingham City this afternoon.

Rams coach Johnny Metgod says it is not too late for members of the squad to stake their claim for a spot in the starting line-up for the Championship opener away to Leeds United a week today.

The players will have a chance to impress boss Nigel Clough and his management team when Derby take on Alex McLeish's Birmingham at Pride Park Stadium today (3pm).

Although the side named for the game is likely to give some indication as to the possible line-up against Leeds, Metgod insisted the door is still open for those who make their mark between now and then.

"Ideally speaking, you would try to get one game before the League starts with the sort of formation and players that you want but it is not always possible," he said.

"I do think the majority of the team could be the ones who will start against Leeds but certain positions are still up for grabs.

"And even if you only come on for five minutes, that is still enough time to make an impression and say to the gaffer: 'I'm here too and don't count me out yet'.

"So it's up to the players to convince us that they are capable of being in the team and staying there."

Derby are so far unbeaten in pre-season and have already beaten top-flight opposition in Stoke City, who went down 1-0 at Pride Park on Tuesday night.

Metgod said: "With all due respect to Chesterfield, Southend and Bournemouth, they are teams that are looking up to Derby, because we are playing in the Championship, and giving it everything they have got.

"Now, with Stoke and Birmingham, it is the other way around and that gives us a totally different ball game.

"Stoke are a very good side and Birmingham is a step up again, because they are very physical but are also a good footballing side.

"So it is going to be very interesting to see how we cope with that.

"It's going to be a different game from Stoke and that suits us.

"For us, it is going to be a big learning experience, whatever the result.

"It will be a pleasure to play against another team who are in the Premier League and are pretty much trying to do the same things that we are."

For Metgod, unlike most matches, the result against Birmingham is secondary to the performance.

"The result is always important – but it's not the most important thing," said the Dutchman.

"I think at this stage, the way we play is far more important – can we play the same way against a Premier League side that we did against the likes of Chesterfield, Bournemouth and Southend?

"We will be up against better players who are better on the ball but we will be looking to play along the same lines as we have been."

Skipper Robbie Savage and striker Rob Hulse could feature today after missing the Stoke game with slight groin strains, while midfielder Paul Green is expected to have shaken off a similar problem.