Captain Dennis Archer has been forced to introduce four new players to his Derbyshire team ahead of this year's AEGON Winter County Cup.
Only three of the seven-strong squad who represented the county at Eastbourne earlier this year will be available to play in Hull later this month.
That has opened the door for some of Derbyshire's junior talent to make their debut at county level.
Now Archer says the team's aim is to avoid relegation.
Last year, Derbyshire dropped out of Division Two after losing all three of their matches in Cardiff, following two seasons of promotions from Division Four.
Since then, the county have cemented their place in the top flight at the AEGON Summer County Cup, held at Devonshire Park in July.
But non-playing captain Archer said it would be a "very different" side he was taking with him to the Kingston Park Tennis Centre for the winter competition.
"One door closes but another opens and it will be interesting to see some of the juniors getting a chance to play," said Archer.
"It is perhaps a good thing we were relegated last year, because it will mean the new players will have a better chance to show what they can do.
"Four of the seven won't have played for the county before so it might be a bit of an eye-opener for them.
"In an ideal world, you would only want to take one, possibly two, new players with you but that can't be the case.
"So, with so many of the regular players out, it is going to be hard and it is going to be a big ask but we'll have to wait and see.
"If we manage to stay up, I think we will have done well."
Players available from the summer team are Chris Archer, James Rushby and Simon Thornewill.
Tom Rushby and Steven Amey will not be available to play due to other commitments, while Chris Simpson and Chris McPherson are both abroad and Dan Cottier may be ruled out through injury.
Replacing them are Mike Peel – a coach for the MyTennis programme at Loughborough University – and juniors Sam Ferguson, Jacob East and Ben Rushby.
Archer, who has been involved in the county tournaments for 41 years, said: "Mike obviously has great experience, while Ben will be the third Rushby to join the team.
"Sam is one of the youngest to represent the team in a long time and it will also be an interesting experience for Jake too – and I think they are all excited.
"They are all playing a lot in their own ways but they won't have played at this level before so I'm looking to see what they are capable of.
"We have had some practice together but there is obviously a lot of difference between that and actually playing."
Play at the Winter County Cup will start on Friday, November 25, with Derbyshire facing Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire and Berkshire in Division 3B during the three-day competition.
Archer added: "It's always nice to beat Nottinghamshire, so we'll certainly be aiming to do that.
"We played Berkshire about two years ago and we beat them, while we haven't played Warwickshire in the Winter County Cup for a long time.
"It will certainly be a tough division but we are definitely looking forward to the challenge."
Each day, teams will play nine rubbers to determine the winner, with six singles and three doubles matches.
The team finishing top of the division will be promoted for next year's competition, while the group scoring the lowest number of points will be relegated.
"I haven't decided the doubles pairings yet – I think we'll have to wait and see when we get there what we are going to do," said Archer.
"I'll be sure to chat to the senior players about what they think will work best.
"At the beginning of the weekend, we have to nominate the six singles players and ranked them so it can be decided who they are playing.
"That will be important because, after six singles matches, you don't want to be behind before you've even got going.
"The juniors generally play singles more and are used to it, so they are better at that than doubles.
"In the summer competition, it is all doubles matches, so, in that respect, it will help."