Andre Wisdom slotted in at centre-back as manager Frank Lampard continued to challenge his team to adapt and learn in the 3-1 pre-season defeat to Mansfield Town.
The 25-year-old defender played the first-half for the Rams and was one of the stand-out performers in his altered role.
Alongside Curtis Davis in the heart of the defence, the Stags struggled to break through to remain goalless at the break.
“It was good to get another 45 minutes in the legs and a good challenge playing at centre-back,” Wisdom told RamsTV.
“We are training hard every day, always rotating positions and I have played there before so it wasn’t unfamiliar for me.
He added: “I am sure the manager will try other people in different positions and we just have to try and adapt and learn as much as we can in training when we are doing possession and transition games.
“It was good to get that match experience in a different position and I think there are a lot of positives to take from the game.”
Despite the result, Wisdom believes the scoreline didn’t reflect the positives they can take from the game. However, pre-season is also the time to let the negatives come to the surface and smooth them out before the start of the season.
The former Liverpool man will reflect on his performance with the coaching staff, as will his team-mates, and look to build on that when they face Southampton at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.
“Our main priority right now is fitness, taking everything we learn in training and trying to put it into the game perspective,” said Wisdom.
“We will all go through our performances with the manager and Jody and they will let us know the good things that we need to keep doing and the things we need to improve on.
“It’s training but we have got to start getting that winning mentality back. It never goes, that hunger is always going to be with us but we need to put it into the match.”
Although the result was a disappointing, Wisdom reflected on the fact that these matches are an extension of training and getting that match fitness and cultivating the game plan is the priority.
With almost three weeks of pre-season under their belt and the games now coming thick and fast, the Rams fitness is being put to the test so when the first weekend of August arrives, they will reap the rewards.
“Every player will probably tell you the same, except Craig Bryson. Pre-season is tough, you are tired mentally and physically doing the double sessions,” he said.
“But it is needed after a deserved summer break, we just have to get back into it and get all the money in the bank, fitness in our lungs and legs going again.
“Hopefully it will all pay off by the first game away to Reading.”