Derby County face a huge afternoon against Stoke City tomorrow as they look to issue a response to their 4-1 defeat to QPR

Defensive uncertainty is threatening to become a defining feature of Derby County’s season, but building the foundations for a revival is easier said than done.

With the pressure mounting and a defence that has been decimated by injury, John Eustace has to try to find a solution that a) can cope with Stoke City and b) restore some waning confidence in the fanbase.

Eustace has very little room to manoeuvre in terms of the defence which will no doubt be occupying his mind when it comes to his team selection. The Championship is hard enough when everybody's fit let alone when your first-choice options will be sitting in the stands.

Finding a balance will be critical for Derby until they can get players back in November, and they must keep in touch with the teams above them until the cavalry arrives. The likelihood is that Derby's defence tomorrow will be the same as the one which ended Wednesday's game against QPR, which ended in a 4-1 defeat and fire and brimstone erupting on social media.

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With Jacob Widell Zetterstrom still nursing a knee injury, Josh Vickers will continue in goal, and the back four ahead of him virtually picks itself, given there are no other options available with eight of the injured nine players impacting the defence.

Joe Ward will no doubt claim the right-back position and needs to produce a far better performance than he did at Loftus Road. Ryan Nyambe is the favourite to play as a right-sided centre-back, a role he has played before, and Dion Sanderson, the only remaining fit central defender, will no doubt be his partner.

Ryan Hedges has actually done okay at left-back in the last two games, and should be given the nod there. What Eustace does with his midfield, though, will be interesting. David Ozoh was substituted at half-time on Wednesday, but his quality makes it hard to leave him out.

Alex Mowatt could come out of the team to be replaced by Lewis Travis, who does give Derby more legs and more bite rather than comfort in possession.

Out wide, Mo Fuseini, who was also taken off at half-time, should start, given the onus will be on Derby to attack, while Sam Szmodics, who was excellent against Wrexham in the same position, should start on the opposite flank. Bobby Clark should continue in the number 10 role, with Eustace having been eager for continuity in his front four.

And that leaves Carlton Morris to play the leading number nine, although he will need more service than he has been given since the start of the season. Morris being back among the goals would be most welcome as Derby seek a much-needed victory.

Derby predicted XI: Vickers, Ward, Nyambe, Sanderson, Hedges; Travis, Ozoh; Fuseini, Clark, Szmodics; Morris

What would your team be? Have your say HERE.