James Tomkins has consistently risen to the challenge this season and is aiming to do so again at the familiar setting of Pride Park on Saturday.

One of the Hammers star performers at Birmingham City in the 1-1 draw on Boxing Day, the 22-year-old will once again be the constant in the back four. Other players may have come and gone through suspension and injury, but Tomkins has become one of the reliable regulars on the team-sheet.

He has partnered Winston Reid, Abdoulaye Faye and George McCartney at the back already this campaign and it still remains to be seen who will be alongside him for Saturday's trip to Derby, with the first two struggling with fitness and the latter suspended.

No matter to Tomkins. He will simply be focused on trying to get a vital three points as the Hammers managed when they won 3-1 in the first meeting of the teams this season back on 26 November. He also has extra incentive to want to do well after eight loan matches with the Rams at the end of 2008.

"We have played Derby and we know what their strengths are," he told West Ham TV. "We know what we need to do to win the game. We have a few suspensions and injuries so we have to get the lads back this week and push on from Birmingham. We are just looking to the next game now."

With Julien Faubert, Jack Collison and Kevin Nolan also banned for the weekend, Tomkins said whoever comes into the side has to follow the lead of Dan Potts, the 17-year-old who has slotted in at left-back with aplomb in the last two matches.

"It is all about taking yoru chance when you get the chance with injuries. Young Pottsy is doing that at the minute. Hopefully we can take three points at Derby and stay high up in the league. It is the last game of the year and we want to start off next year in the way we have finished this year."