Pompey fans have been waiting a long time for a game of this magnitude - with League One's undoubted top two going head-to-head for the battle to be crowned the division's champions.
Five points separate the John Mousinho's table-toppers and the second-placed Rams who have played a game more. And although the Blues enjoy a healthy cushion over their nearest rivals, they'll be in no mood to go soft on their nearest challengers of the third-tier crown.
Indeed, the Fratton faithful want promotion and the league title wrapped up as soon as possible, with the champagne effectively on ice since that important win at Peterborough before the international break.
The outcome of tonight's game will go a long way to determining Pompey's fate, so Mousinho will want to get his team selection right for such a huge match. He's admitted two players from the Good Friday win at Wycombe are rated '50-50' for the visit of Derby, which is far from ideal whenever you have the likes of Regan Poole, Alex Robertson, Joe Morrell and Callum Lang unavailable through injury. However Pompey have performed superbly in their absence as the Blues' squad has stepped up to the plate to keep the chasing pack at bay.
There are signs of players coming back, too, with Lee Evans making his debut from the bench at Adams Park, while Tino Anjorin is in contention after a lengthy spell out with a hamstring injury. But can they break their way into the side for tonight's game? Or is the bench the best they and the ever-popular Kusini Yengi can hope for?
These are the dilemmas Mousinho must find the answers to. In the meantime, here's how we think Pompey will approach tonight's match...

9. No10 - Myles Peart-Harris
The on-loan Brentford man remained on the bench for the game at Wycombe. That makes him fresh to start against Derby - which is a real possibility, with the Blues expected to make one or two changes for tonight's game. Christian Saydee has been doing well there. He could feel hard done by is he's asked to sit this one out. | National World Photo: Jason Brown

10. Left-wing - Paddy Lane
The Northern Ireland international's form has dipped in recent games - but he's still a massive player in this Pompey team. | National World

11. Centre-forward - Colby Bishop
Write off Colby Bishop if you dare. Two goals against Wycombe on Saturday took him to 19 goals for the season. His 18 in the league makes him the division's second most lethal forward, with plenty still to play for. | National World


