Following the big derby on Saturday at Deepdale, North End have another Derby on Tuesday night, this time in the form of Nigel Clough's Derby County.
It ended honours even against Blackpool on Saturday and now the Lilywhites face another difficult task against a Derby County side that have been in good form in the league in recent weeks, picking up impressive victories against high flying Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
Five wins in the league since the turn of the year has seen Derby slightly creep their way up the table. However, due to the heart of the Championship being so congested, the Rams sit just nine points off of the final Play-Off place and two points adrift from North End who have a game in hand.
This promises to be a highly competitive game and in the reverse fixture in December, the two sides played out an entertaining 0-0 draw on a Tuesday night at Deepdale which saw Preston hit the woodwork twice.
Derby County versus Preston North End
Coca-Cola Championship
Tuesday February 16th
Kick-off 7.45pm
Pride Park
Gaffer's Team News
"He (Callum Davidson) is still a bit off, he went and did some running today and felt it. The other thing is Harty and Mawene have been out for such a long period of time, you can't just keep playing them three times a week, it will kill the lads.
"You have got to find time to take them out and I feel that this might be the right time because they looked particularly leggy on Saturday. We want to get through this week, hopefully get the right results then we will freshen them up.
"There has been a massive block of Saturday-Tuesday games which is the way it is in the Championship, get through this week then we have a lot more time to do things on the training ground as well which is important."
Darren Ferguson tells the assembled media that the recent run of games may force him to make some changes.
The Opposition
It wasn't smooth sailing for Derby County at the start of the season after Nigel Clough had just managed to keep them afloat in the Championship last season.
Following a tricky start to this campaign, Clough has seen his side in a good run of form, winning five matches this side of Christmas.
Similar to North End, Derby have been busy in the loan market since the turn of the year, picking up Nicky Hunt, Javan Vidal, David Martin and former Preston loan player Michael Tonge.
Despite these signings though, one man who has been ever present for County has been Captain Robbie Savage. Savage almost produced one of the best goals of the last round of the FA Cup on the weekend only to be denied by the fingertips of Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Another player who has shone this season is Stephen Bywater, with the ex-West Ham goalkeeper putting in some solid performances for the Rams in recent weeks.
The Opposition Manager
"Physically and mentally they have to recover because they were very close to the last eight of the FA Cup, very close indeed.
"But the most important thing now is that we have got 16 games to stay in the Championship. We need to win six to get us to 54 points. The sooner we do that, the better.
"Let's get those six wins and then we can start planning for next season when we can have another crack at the League Cup, the FA Cup and the League.
"We are out of the FA Cup now. We would love to have been in the hat for the quarter-final draw with Birmingham or in our own right but the Cup has gone for another year. Now it is all about Preston tomorrow."
Nigel Clough tells the Derby Telegraph that his side are looking for six more victories to stay in the league.
The Opposition Player
"Tuesday night is a massive game for us, a game that if we can play the way that we are at the minute then we have a chance.
"We are dangerously close to the relegation zone but we are playing full of confidence, we have just got to replicate these performances at home against Preston and Swansea.
"Preston will come here and will fancy their chances, they have got a good manager in Darren Ferguson and they'll be looking forward to coming to Pride Park with 30,000 here but we will be looking forward to it to."
Robbie Savage tells Rams Player how Derby are looking forward to the visit of Preston North End.
Last Meeting
PNE 0 Derby 0
Tuesday 8th December 2009
Deepdale
Head-to-head
PNE's all-time record against Derby - W 49 D 20 L 37
PNE's all-time league record against Derby - W 43 D 17 L 35
PNEBetting.com
Derby 5/4 Draw 23/10 PNE 11/5
PNEBetting.com's Selected Bet
Matt James to score first and PNE to win 2-1 - 115/1
*Bet in-play on more than 30 markets on the game against Derby on Tuesday night only on pnebetting.com*
PNE Player
Jonathan Breeze will be joined by co-commentator Steve Wilkinson at Pride Park, which will be broadcast live on PNE Player and Central Radio. The build-up will begin from 7pm and you can listen live in the PR postcode area on Central Radio 106.5 FM and online everywhere else on
www.pne.com/player.
PNE Player is the only place to watch in-depth and exclusive interviews with key figures ahead of the game. Head to www.pneplayer.com to watch Darren Ferguson's pre-match press conference and interviews with new loan signing Tom Williams and midfielder Paul Coutts.
Any Other Business?
Buy a Super Six Mini Season Ticket today from the Club, with the Club offering fans six games for the price of five. Tickets are on sale online now so for more details visit www.mypne.com, alternatively visit or ring the Ticket Office on 0844 856 1966.
