Stoke date for Derby

Derby will step-up their preparations for next season`s Championship campaign by hosting Stoke in a pre-season friendly. The Potters will travel to Pride Park on August 1, with boss Nigel Clough hoping that the Premier League outfit can provide his side with a tough test ahead of the big kick-off seven days later. The Rams pre-season schedule also includes games with newly-promoted Burton, Notts County and Chesterfield, while they will also embark on a tour to the west country with fixtures against Yeovil, Exeter and Torquay.