AS he talks about the prospect of facing Derby County, Chris Cohen cannot stop grinning.
This is not unusual for the Nottingham Forest midfielder, whose persona off the field is rather more friendly than his attitude on it.
But for Cohen, games against the Rams have held particular significance in recent seasons.
Cohen was badly injured, in controversial circumstances, when the two sides met in September 2011 – when Derby played on with Cohen stricken on the turf with his knee ligaments torn apart and scored through Jamie Ward.
And, just over 12 months later, he made his first league start in the same fixture, at the City Ground, in September of last year.
Now, as Forest look to end a run of three consecutive defeats against Nigel Clough's side, Cohen is hopeful that the game will prove to be a landmark moment again, for different reasons.
As they look to acclimatise to life under a new manager, in the form of Alex McLeish, Cohen knows that the result at Pride Park could take on extra significance.
And he hopes the fixture will therefor be memorable for all the right reasons.
"I don't personally have a point to prove because of what happened with the injury," said Cohen. "I don't think you can worry about things like that too much.
"It happened in a game against Derby but, at the same time, I made my comeback, my first league start, in a game against Derby.
"It was a bad injury, but it is something that has gone now and I don't really think about it.
"The most important thing is putting in a good performance and hopefully coming out of the game with three points.
"Hopefully it can be a third big game for me, but just because it ends with a Forest win."
Cohen concedes that there is an extra significance to the fixture for the players.
"They are always a bit special and, after the result we got at home, we will be looking for a little pay back," he said.
"We are very excited, we are hoping the game is on.
"People do tell you to treat it just like any other game – but it is not like any other game.
"It is different, they are special, there is an incredible atmosphere, there is a rivalry and an intensity.
"That can sometimes boil over, but hopefully there will be no red cards for us this time.
"There have been a lot of those in recent years, we just have to make sure we handle the situation better than they do.
"You need to believe that it is a big game and be prepared for a battle.
"No matter what happens by the end of the game, as long as you give everything you have got to the cause, there will be a good chance that it is your day.
"If we get 11 players doing that, we know we have the quality to beat a good Derby side."
A few weeks into his tenure, Cohen says McLeish is having a positive impact on the squad.
"I have always said that, when a manager comes in without having the benefit of a pre-season, it can be difficult for them to put their ideas across," said Cohen.
"The gaffer is trying to put his ideas across now, but he has only been here a few weeks.
"It is difficult, it will take time – but we are working hard.
"I am sure he will say himself that he might not get us playing the way he wants to play, to the best of our ability, until the start of next season.
"But that is not early enough. We need to start doing things straight away.
"So we have a quick-fire plan, which we are trying to put into place; we have changed the way we play a little bit.
"It is starting to work. After Peterborough, we feel as though we are on the right course.
"If we don't put a performance in against Derby, it will look like we are back in the inconsistent form that we have had this season under the previous manager.
"It is a massive game for us, but we are enjoying it under the new manager and we hope we can put a few of his ideas across, in the same way as we did last weekend.
"It would mean a lot to get two consecutive wins under the new manager."
Danny Collins is back from suspension and available for the game – but Cohen jokingly admits he hopes he does not get back in the side as, in the defender's absence, Cohen was handed the captain's armband last weekend.
"I really enjoyed it, but I am sure DC will be back involved against Derby," said Cohen. "We all like to have him as captain, but I would by lying if I said I did not enjoy it. To lead the team out is a massive honour."
But, whether he gets the armband again today, one thing is certain – if Forest do win, Cohen's grin will be wider than ever.
