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Stephen Bywater will hand Derby County a boost by returning to action in tomorrow's pre-season game against Mansfield Town at Field Mill.
Derby's number one goalkeeper has sat out all the friendlies so far because of a groin strain but he is fit to face the Stags at Field Mill (3pm).
Dean Leacock will also be involved after missing Monday's defeat at Macclesfield with a tight calf muscle and fellow-centre-back Claude Davis will pull on a Rams shirt for the first time.
Davis obtained a work permit on Wednesday and has now completed his £3m move from Sheffield United.
Derby have been giving all the players match practice in the five friendlies played but manager Billy Davies will take a squad of 18 to Mansfield and says the time has come to start looking at team shape.
"It is time now to start to pull the squad together and start to focus more on the team play," he said.
"The focus is now on preparing for the first league game."