Brynjar Gunnarsson may have to fill in at centre-back again because Matt Mills is still nursing the ankle injury he suffered on the opening day.
Nottingham Forest are without defender Chris Gunter, who is suspended after being charged with violent conduct for a stamp in the draw with Leeds.
Luke Chambers and Brendan Moloney are both vying to replace him.
MATCH PREVIEW
These teams had reason to be optimistic ahead of the new season, but have made uninspiring starts. Forest, without an away win since January, stuttered at the beginning of last season and have made a sluggish start this time too.
Billy Davies' men, beaten in the play-offs in May and awaiting their first win of this term, have had a total of three shots on target in their two Championship matches so far - fewer than any other team in the division.
Reading, also without a league victory, had a great spell under boss Brian McDemott last season but have also been slow out of the blocks. They will want to make amends for losing to Scunthorpe in their opening home match.
Conceding early goals has also been a concern for the Royals. They are the only side to have already shipped two goals in the first 10 minutes of their Championship matches this season.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Forest are looking to extend their unbeaten run against the Royals to five games.
• Reading's most recent win against Forest was 1-0 in April 2005 at the Madejski Stadium.
Reading
• Reading are yet to have a player booked in the Championship this season and have also committed fewer fouls than any other team in the division (nine).
• If selected, Brynjar Gunnarsson will be playing against his former club and Jimmy Kebe is set to make his 100th appearance for Reading.
Nottingham Forest
• Forest have not won in 11 away league games, picking up two points out of 33 since winning at West Brom on 8 January.
• Defender Kelvin Wilson is on the verge of his 200th league start.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport