Derby County's fixture list for the 2023/24 Sky Bet League One campaign was revealed on Thursday morning.
A home encounter with Wigan Athletic kicks things off at Pride Park Stadium in August, while the visit of Carlisle United at the end of April is how the Rams finish - but there's plenty to dissect in-between.
dcfc.co.uk has taken a look at the main talking points following the release of the 2023/24 fixtures.
The Start...
After an early start in 2022/23 last July, the season returns to the more familiar kick-off date of early August for the opening day.
Wigan Athletic will provide the first test for the Rams at the start of the 2023/24 campaign when they visit Pride Park Stadium on Saturday 5th August.
Fans won't have to travel far for the first away trip either, getting the shortest journey of the season on the agenda early doors when Paul Warne's side face Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday 12th August.
Derby then face two home games in a week when Oxford United and Fleetwood Town visit Pride Park on the Tuesday 15th August and Saturday 19th August respectively before the first month of the season rounds off with an away fixture at last season's beaten play-off semi-finalists Peterborough United on Saturday 26th August.
What's New?
Every new season brings with it new tests and this one is no different. Four teams were promoted from Sky Bet League Two whilst three were relegated from the Championship meaning seven new opponents in total for Rams fans.
Certain teams will be all too familiar. Blackpool, Reading and Wigan Athletic have all been familiar foes for Derby over the years and their relegations from the second tier means the Rams be facing off with them once again.
Those promoted from Sky Bet League Two will however bring with them tests that haven't been had for some time.
The Rams haven't faced last season's fourth tier champions Leyton Orient in competitive action since 1985 whilst the meeting with Stevenage, who finished in second last term, will mark the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides.
Third placed Northampton Town will face the Rams in league action for the first time since 1967, although the two did face off in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round back in 2020.
Paul Simpson's Carlisle United, who were promoted via the play-offs in May, haven't faced off with Derby in the league since 1984 but have taken on the Rams twice in the last 10 years in EFL Cup.
What's The Festive Period Like?
The festive period is always a big one for fans and this year's is looking as busy as always.
Derby face Lincoln City at home on the lead up to Christmas on Saturday 23rd December whilst Boxing Day will see the side take part in the reverse fixture of the opening day when they travel to Wigan Athletic on Tuesday 26th December.
Warne's side on the road again just three days later on Friday 29th December when they travel to Oxford United before things round off on New Year's Day back on home soil when Peterborough United are the visitors to Pride Park for the first game of 2024 on Monday 1st January.
What Do The Midweek Fixtures Look Like?
Fans will notice off the bat that there's a repeat of one of last year's midweek fixtures in Exeter City.
Derby played the Grecians on a Tuesday evening both home and away in the last campaign and they'll do that once again this year, first welcoming them to Pride Park on Tuesday 24th October before making the long trip south on Tuesday 13th February.
Oxford United is the first midweek fixture on home soil on Tuesday 15th August whilst the first away one will see Derby travel to Blackpool on the evening of Tuesday 3rd October.
Port Vale away is another of the midweek evening fixtures on 28th November and fans will be hoping for a repeat of last year's trip to Vale Park when Derby scored twice to win 2-1 late on, while the final game of 2023 at Oxford United on 29th December is also an evening fixture.
There's just two evening midweek matches scheduled for 2024 as things stand and those are the aforementioned trip to Exeter in February and a home clash with Reading at Pride Park on 12th March.
The Run-In...
This year's regular season draws to a close at the end of April and there will be five fixtures across the month for the run-in.
Monday 1st April, which is an Easter Monday, will see the Rams make the long journey to Portsmouth and things don't get much easier the following weekend when they travel to Wycombe Wanderers.
Derby play newly promoted Leyton Orient in the penultimate home game of the season on Saturday 13th April before travelling to Cambridge United for the final away day on Saturday 20th April.
The season comes to a close in front of the Rams faithful on Saturday 27th April when Paul Simpson returns to Pride Park with his Carlisle United side.
