ROTHERHAM United will be Derby County's first opponents when the 2014-15 Championship campaign gets under way.
The newly-promoted Millers will visit the iPro Stadium on Saturday, August 9.
Here, we take a look back at the Rams' past 10 season openers...
2013-14
Derby County 1
Blackburn Rovers 1
A LATE strike from Leon Best denied Derby a winning start last season.
Best's 89th-minute volley earned Blackburn Rovers a deserved point at Pride Park.Johnny Russell had put the Rams ahead shortly before half-time from the penalty spot on his debut following his summer move from Dundee United.
Russell sent Derby-born keeper Jake Kean the wrong way from 12 yards after midfielder Alex Marrow was deemed to have handled Jamie Ward's free kick into the box.
2012-13
Derby County 5
Scunthorpe United 5
(aet Derby lost 7-6 on pens)
UNUSUALLY, last season started with a midweek League Cup first round tie and it turned out to be an extraordinary game.
Derby led 3-0 at half-time, then 4-1 and were still 5-3 up going into stoppage time – but League One Scunthorpe grabbed two late goals to level at 5-5 and take the tie into extra-time.
A penalty shoot-out eventually settled the match, with the Rams losing 7-6 after Tom Naylor's spot kick came back off the underside of the crossbar.
Derby's goals came from Richard Keogh, Jake Buxton (2), Theo Robinson and Nathan Tyson. Robinson also had a penalty saved in normal time.
Nigel Clough's men went on to draw their opening league fixture 2-2 at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
2011-12
Derby County 2
Birmingham City 1
THE Rams came from behind to ensure they made a winning start to their Championship campaign against newly-relegated Birmingham.
Curtis Davies put the visitors ahead at Pride Park but fellow defender Jason Shackell marked his debut with a goal to equalise and Steve Davies' swerving strike three minutes before half-time proved to be the winner.
Midfielder Craig Bryson and full-back Kevin Kilbane made their Derby debuts along with Shackell, while winger Lee Croft was handed his first league outing since Boxing Day 2009.
It was the third year in a row that the Rams have won 2-1 on the opening day.
2010-11
Leeds United 1
Derby County 2
DERBY sent rivals Leeds to their first opening-day defeat for 21 years at Elland Road.
On arriving in South Yorkshire, Rams boss Nigel Clough asked his players to get off the team bus 500 yards from the ground and walk the final stretch among the home fans.
It was a tactic that paid off as Rob Hulse fired the visitors into an early lead.
Luciano Becchio levelled soon after but the Rams regained their advantage when Kris Commons slotted home a penalty after Tomasz Cywka had been brought down in the box.
The margin of victory could have been greater had it not been for an inspired display by home keeper Kasper Schmeichel.
John Brayford, James Bailey and Gareth Roberts put in eye-catching debuts, while Shaun Barker– a surprise inclusion in the squad having missed all of pre-season due to injury – produced a fine second-half display after replacing the stricken Russell Anderson.
2009-10
Derby County 2
Peterborough United 1
THE Rams got their season off to a winning start for the first time in seven attempts.
It took only four minutes for the home side to open the scoring – Miles Addison bravely heading in after being set up by new signing from Burton Albion, Jake Buxton.
A defensive mix-up handed Posh a 84th-minute equaliser, George Boyd scoring from the spot after goalkeeper Stephen Bywater's rash challenge on Shaun Batt.
However, Derby sealed the points three minutes later with a scrambled winner from Gary Teale.
Centre-back Buxton impressed on his debut, as did Dean Moxey and Lee Croft.
2008-09
Derby County 0
Doncaster Rovers 1
PAUL Jewell's new-look Derby side were booed off after beginning life back in the Championship with a home defeat by Doncaster.
Nine players made their Rams debuts, include seven starters.
Of the starting 11, only Roy Carroll, Tyrone Mears, Jay McEveley and skipper Alan Stubbs survived from Derby's Premier League nightmare.
Doncaster's Lewis Guy netted the only goal of the game after 59 minutes.
2007-08
Derby County 2
Portsmouth 2
THERE was little sign of just what was to come as the Rams opened their Premier League campaign with a hard-earned draw at Pride Park following promotion.
Matt Oakley's goal gave the home side the perfect start before Benjani levelled for Pompey.
John Utaka's 83rd-minute strike put the visitors ahead but the Rams hit straight back, defender Andy Todd sending an unstoppable header past David James from Gary Teale's cross.
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp was full of praise for midfielder Oakley afterwards, saying: "I thought Matt was terrific for Derby – he's a great lad and a good player."
Rams boss Billy Davies set a target of 42 points for survival – they managed only 11.
2006-07
Derby County 2
Southampton 2
FORMER Rams boss George Burley returned to Pride Park with Southampton and looked to be on his way to collecting three points before Paul Peschisolido grabbed a late equaliser for the hosts.
Derby deserved their half-time lead, given to them by midfielder Seth Johnson, but lost their way after the break.
Gareth Bale showed a tantalising glimpse of his burgeoning talent, equalising with a stunning free kick, before Bradley Wright-Phillips smashed the Saints ahead.
It stayed that way until 90 minutes, when 35-year-old Peschisolido popped up to earn the Rams a share of the spoils.
2005-06
Derby County 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1
PHIL Brown's tenure as Derby manager got off to an inauspicious start as they were held at home by Brighton.
The Seagulls took a seventh-minute lead when Dean Hammond met Jason Dodd's free kick.
Paul Peschisolido got the Rams back on level terms with a spectacular volley seven minutes later but the hosts were unable to find a winner, leaving Brown with mixed emotions.
"There is disappointment at not getting all three points but to get a point from my first match is a pleasing start," he said. "We are on the board and have a platform from which to build."
2004-05
Leeds United 1
Derby County 0
THE Rams may have won on their last four visits to Elland Road but it was not always this way.
They had not won at Leeds for 30 years when they arrived in West Yorkshire on a sweltering August day in 2004.
And that barren run continued as Frazer Richardson's well-taken goal after 72 minutes gave a new-look Leeds side all three points.
But there were signs of encouragement for Derby, who were denied a late equaliser when Ian Taylor's header hit the post before Neil Sullivan produced a stunning save to keep out the follow-up from Brazilian striker Junior.
Goalkeeper Lee Camp was a surprise inclusion, preferred to Lee Grant, while manager George Burley handed debuts to Inigo Idiakez, Morten Bisgaard and Tommy Smith.
