Derby County picked up a solid point at Sunderland on Friday as the Sky Bet Championship began its 2017/18 season, and the Rams will look to continue their unbeaten start to season in tonight’s Carabao Cup tie at Grimsby Town.

The Mariners began their own campaign in excellent fashion with an impressive 3-1 away win at recently relegated Chesterfield, and will welcome the Rams to Blundell Park this evening bursting with confidence.

Derby face a tough home fixture at home to big spending Wolves this weekend, and boss Gary Rowett may opt to make wholesale changes against Grimsby this evening, with the league undoubtedly the priority competition of Derby’s season.

Grimsby boss Russell Slade will know an upset will seriously boost his credentials and popularity with fans of the Lincolnshire club, but will also have an eye on the weekend, with promotion rivals Coventry City coming to town.

Grimsby and Derby are both well organised, hard to break down sides, and the fixture in north Lincolnshire could prove to be an extremely cagey affair.

If changes are made however and youngsters are given a chance to impress, this could turn into an entertaining encounter.

Cup competitions do not come around every week, and the opportunity for youth team and fringe players to impress in the first eleven must be taken advantage of.

Rowett will take nothing for granted against the Mariners, but with changes likely, there could be an upset on the cards this evening.

Can Grimsby really conquer the Rams this evening?