The aim of the current study was to predict the plastic deformation behavior of a heated slab during hot rough rolling. FE-simulations were performed to investigate the metal flow and to locate the position of surface material from the slab through the rough rolling and onto the strip, using a material point tracking technique. In addition, experimental hot rolling trials were conducted where artificial defects were impressed onto a heated slab in order to validate the FE-simulation results. The simulated results show the same tendency of deformation behavior as the experimental measurements. The movement of slab defects from the side surface towards the strip center is directly linked to the extent of lateral spread during the rolling.