Reading can reclaim the final Championship playoff spot if they avoid defeat against league leaders and already-promoted Leicester City tomorrow night.
The Royals have now dropped a point behind both Brighton & Hove Albion and Ipswich Town after their victories yesterday and will want to end a run of six home games without a win.
Both sides go into Monday night's match on the back of losses after Reading were brushed aside by Bournemouth, while Leicester's first defeat of 2014 came at home to Brighton.
Although the Foxes have guaranteed a return to the Premier League after 10 years away, they still have the league title to work for and can move nine clear of second-placed Burnley with victory at the Madejski Stadium.
Manager Nigel Pearson could freshen up his starting lineup, with Matty James, Chris Wood and Lloyd Dyer in line to start.
Hosts Reading, meanwhile, are struggling in midfield as Danny Guthrie and Danny Williams are set to miss out through injury.
Reading have won five of their last six games against Leicester but went down in the reverse fixture, with David Nugent scoring the only goal of the game on Boxing Day.
Recent form
Reading: LWDLWD
Leicester: LWDWDD
Possible starting lineups
Reading: McCarthy; Gunter, Gorkss, Pearce, Bridge; McCleary, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Drenthe; Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak
Leicester: Schmeichel; Moore, Morgan, Wasilewski, Konchesky; Mahrez, James, Drinkwater, Dyer; Nugent, Wood
Sports Mole says: 1-1
