Kelle Roos views this weekend’s clash with West Bromwich Albion this weekend as a big opportunity for Derby County’s players.
Phillip Cocu’s side head into the game at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday lunchtime (12:30pm kick-off) looking to react after their first defeat to the season in midweek.
The Rams were beaten 2-1 by Bristol City on home turf and the meeting with Slaven Bilić provides the chance to bounce back immediately.
Roos is expecting a tough test against the Baggies but also believes it’s a big opportunity to return to winning ways.
He says there’s a confident mood in the camp as Derby look to claim their first home victory of the campaign.
The goalkeeper told RamsTV: “West Brom are a good side and obviously they have a new manager compared to when we played against them at the end of last season.
“I think the core of their team is the same but obviously they have made a few changes. It will be a tough test and a good game in my opinion.
“As the manager said to us and in the media, we have to start well. We have to attack the game from the start and it’s an important game for us to show what we’re about.
“We are confident, as we always are, but we have to make sure we are ready too. The feeling I get from the lads is everyone is buzzing to go.”
He added: “We want to be a difficult team to play against and we have to keep going with that. If we keep working hard I think our quality will shine through.”
Derby have started the season with a win, two draws and a single defeat to their name in the Sky Bet Championship.
Roos admitted it was frustrating to lose their unbeaten start to the campaign in midweek, particularly on home turf.
The 27-year-old believes there were lessons to be learned from the game against Lee Johnson’s side.
“The defeat in midweek was definitely disappointing,” he said.
“We didn’t start like ourselves and with the tempo and standards that we expect of ourselves. We turned it around a bit in the second half but it was a little too late by then.
“We now have to keep working hard and make sure we’re ready to come out of the blocks on Saturday.”
Derby’s last home meeting with the Baggies was an occasion to savour.
They were 3-1 winners at Pride Park on the final day of last season to secure a place in the play-offs.
A sell-out crowd roared Derby on to victory and Roos believes the qualities the Rams displayed that day will be needed once again on Saturday.
He said: “That was a great game back in May and the crowd was amazing too.
“The effort from the lads was brilliant and we took the win, a big one, to get into the play-offs.
“I think we pride ourselves on that as a group, when things get tough we don’t let our heads get down. We keep fighting until the end and you have to do that when things are difficult.”