Rikki Clarke led a Derbyshire fightback against a Warwickshire team without England wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.

Teenager Richard Johnson stood in for Ambrose, who was off the field with the neck injury which forced him to bat down the order on the second day.

The 25-year-old received treatment from Warwickshire physio Gerhard Mostert and is confident he will be fit to play in next week's first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

He said: "Hopefully it will clear up in the next couple of days. The physio knows a lot more about these things than I do and he is confident that will be the case."

Derbyshire gave permission for 19-year-old Johnson to make his first senior appearance for Warwickshire, who were frustrated by Clarke's first major innings since he moved to Derby.

The former Surrey all-rounder made 81 to pull his side out of a hole after they slipped to 61 for three after lunch, only 21 runs ahead.

But Clarke and former Warwickshire wicketkeeper Freddie Klokker, who was unbeaten on 76, fought back to put on 134 in 41 overs for the fourth wicket and by the close Derbyshire were on top at 323 for five, a lead of 283.

Warwickshire appeared to have taken a grip of the match but Clarke and Klokker loosened it despite the efforts of skipper Darren Maddy, who made 10 bowling changes between lunch and tea.

Derbyshire had struggled in the morning after Chris Rogers was forced to retire hurt on 10 when he was struck in the grill of his helmet by a lifting ball from Neil Carter.

Steve Stubbings and John Sadler took the score to 41 before former Derbyshire spinner Ant Botha trapped Stubbings lbw for 19 and Sadler followed five overs later when he played on to Maddy.

The contest seemed to be slipping away from the home side when Dominic Telo perished to a reckless sweep at Botha off the third ball of the afternoon session.

But Clarke counter-attacked, driving ex-Surrey team-mate Ian Salisbury for six on his way to a half century which also contained six fours, and the stand with Klokker had added 134 when the captain chipped Maddy's slower ball to mid-on.

Rogers returned to punish what had become a ragged attack as 93 came from 17 overs with the Australian scoring 64 before he edged Carter to Johnson.

Klokker scored his maiden championship fifty from 141 balls and Warwickshire's frustration mounted when he was dropped at slip on 56 and Monde Zondeki was warned for running on the pitch.