Matt Oakley narrowly avoided having his house washed away by this summer's floods - now he is hoping Derby's Barclays Premier League dreams do not sink without trace.

The former Saints star was on holiday in Portugal when a friend called to say they had seen his south Derbyshire property on the news and it was about to be flooded.

Fortunately for Oakley, he returned to find his home still intact as the water did not rise high enough.

"There's a river at the back of my home that had burst its banks," Oakley said.

"I was watching the news on holiday and it was quite scary seeing places like Sheffield and that. When I returned I was expecting it to be like that.

"The floods had come right up to my property and closed the road off, but people had put sand bags and that kind of stuff in the way.

"Thankfully it didn't quite get up to the front door. I guess I timed it quite well with me being in the sunshine".

Oakley now has more pressing matters on his mind as the Rams open their top-flight campaign with a Pride Park clash with Portsmouth tomorrow.

As a former Saints midfielder who spent 12 years on the south coast before joining Derby last August, Oakley is expecting to come in for some stick from the Pompey fans, especially given his last appearance against them in January 2005.

He added: "I scored (in a 2-1 victory) in the FA Cup to knock them out so I've good memories and hopefully I'll have another one after tomorrow".

However, Oakley knows Portsmouth are a different side to the one he faced then, with Harry Redknapp having money to spend on new faces.

"They're looking like quite a powerful force this season," added Oakley.

"Instead of having to wheel and deal, Harry's been able to get the players he wants, and he's putting quite a good team together.

"Even though it hurts me to say it, I'm expecting big things from them this season".

The same cannot be said for Derby as they are among the favourites for the drop, with Oakley recognising the squad lacks depth.

"We need strengthening in certain areas, players with experience of playing at this level," assessed Oakley.

"But it's going to be difficult attracting players when everybody has written us off.

"Players aren't going to leave clubs and sign for one they think is going to go down. They're going to wait a year to see how Derby fares.

"So we're going to have to go with the squad we've got, which is a fairly young squad, but with a lot of potential."

One possible new recruit before the transfer window closes at the end of the month is a player Oakley knows well from his time with Saints.

Boss Billy Davies, who tomorrow serves a one-match touchline ban, is hoping to prise striker Kenwyne Jones away from the Saints.

Two bids have already been rejected but the two clubs are still talking.

Oakley believes Jones would be a good acquisition, even though he is another player who does not have Premier League experience.

"He is obviously a fantastic athlete and he had quite a good season last season," said Oakley.

"He's certainly got potential, like a lot of players we have in the dressing room.

"The only way you can find out if they're good enough for the Premiership is by putting them in there and seeing if they sink or swim".