On the back of last week's 3-0 defeat at Liverpool, Steve Cooper appears to have switched from a 5-4-1 formation to a 4-3-3.
However, the most notable alteration comes between the sticks with summer arrival Odysseas Vlachodimos being handed his Premier League debut.
Harry Toffolo has been recalled to the starting lineup, potentially at right-back unless Ola Aina switches from left-back.
Taiwo Awoniyi is also back in the first XI for the first time in over a month after recovering from a groin injury.
Matt Turner, Serge Aurier and Willy Boly are the players to drop down to the substitutes' bench, where they are joined by Danilo who has not featured since the beginning of September.
Meanwhile, Villa are unchanged from the team that started the 3-1 victory over Luton Town on home territory last weekend.
Leon Bailey had been in contention to take the place of Nicolo Zaniolo on the flank, but the Italian has retained his place in the team in what is likely to be a 4-4-2 formation.
Unai Emery has been handed a boost by the return of Alex Moreno, the Spanish left-back featuring in the first-team squad for the first time this season.
Nottingham Forest: Vlachodimos; Toffolo, Niakhate, Murillo, Aina; Dominguez, Mangala, Sangare; Gibbs-White, Awoniyi, Elanga
Subs: Turner, Tavares, Williams, Kouyate, Santos, Yates, Aurier, Danilo, Boly
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; McGinn, Kamara, Luiz, Zaniolo; Diaby; Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Carlos, Tielemans, Traore, Moreno, Chambers, Lenglet, Bailey, Dendoncker