The Millers, who have taken one point in three games under the former Leeds boss, are without a win in four and are stuck in the bottom three ahead of one of their most difficult games of the season.
Here are five things to look out for in the game.
Will Rotherham have benefitted from a clear week?
Redfearn was thrown in at the deep end after his appointment earlier this month as the Millers had three games in six days, which culminated in the derby loss to Sheffield Wednesday last Friday. That gruelling run coincided with an injury crisis and meant that it has not been the best of starts for the new boss. While fixtures-wise it is not about to get any easier for him, Redfearn has at least had a full week on the training ground with his squad and therefore the first real chance to work with them on how he wants to play. There have been glimpses in his first three games, but we should get a better idea of how Redfearn's Rotherham might look at the iPro. As well as that, the Millers should be able to report a near clean bill of health as Joe Mattock, Joe Newell and Danny Ward have all had further time to return to fitness.
Who will replace Farrend Rawson?
As part of his loan deal from the Rams, Rawson will be unavailable to face his parent club, so Redfearn must decide on a new central defensive partner for Danny Collins. Tom Thorpe, Kirk Broadfoot and Greg Halford are the contenders, with Thorpe perhaps the likeliest option. Although Broadfoot performed admirably at the end of last season, the combined lack of pace with the two veterans could see Derby rubbing their hands with glee, while Halford does not appear to have won Redfearn over after his misdemeanours prior to his arrival. Thorpe has played the last two games, albeit in midfield, so will be sharp and Redfearn is known to prefer youth. Whoever gets the nod, will have to be on their mettle.
Where are the goals coming from?
Given Rotherham have scored in every game bar one this season it may sound contradictory to suggest they have problems going forward. But they have problems going forward. They have looked toothless in attack for much of the season, but particularly in the last four games as their only goal threat came from set pieces or wonder strikes. Their front pairing of Jonson Clarke-Harris and Matt Derbyshire have not scored for a combined total of almost 1000 minutes while Redfearn only has Jordan Bowery as a viable option off the bench. The boss has identified this as a problem area, saying his side lack "poke", and unless he addresses before kick-off at the iPro it could be another disappointing afternoon in front of goal for the Millers.Can Rotherham provide a coupon-busting result?
There won't be many people in the betting nation that aren't piling their cash on a home win in this fixture and it's easy to see why. Added to their respective standings and stature in the division - which are at opposite ends of the scale - much of Rotherham's time in the Championship has been undermined their inability to get many results on the road at the top teams. They did not beat any of the top-12 on the road last season, claiming just four points, and this term has already seen defeats at QPR and Brighton. Going into these sort of games under the previous manager offered no hope of a surprise win, potentially because of tactics deployed, but Redfearn has spoke about making the Millers less fragile and more resolute. Nothing like a game of this difficulty to put it to the test.
Thanks a lot fixture list!
Much has already been said - and written - of Redfearn's baptism of fire but the fixture list really has not proven kind. Added to the gruelling start and injury crisis, the fixture list has thrown up back-to-back away games at Derby and Middlesbrough and a trip to the iPro Stadium could not have come at a worse time. After a sluggish start under new boss Paul Clement the Rams are now the form side of the division, unbeaten in eight games with six wins. If Rotherham's attacking options are limited, the Rams' have an embarrassment of riches with Chris Martin, Johnny Russell, Darren Bent and Andreas Weimann at their disposal. If that does not make the Millers' task difficult enough they are also battling a truly shocking record when visiting the Rams, having lost all four visits to the iPro Stadium and not winning at the Baseball Ground since 1965. Gulp.
