In-form Preston will again be missing a trio of players when Reading visit Deepdale.

Left-back Callum Davidson is ruled out for several weeks with a torn hamstring and midfielder Barry Nicholson remains a long-term absentee with a broken leg.

Winger Paul Parry also tore a hamstring in the recent 2-0 home win over Swansea and will remain sidelined too.

However, North End are in buoyant mood after Saturday's 2-1 win at Leicester lifted them to third in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Manager Alan Irvine made five changes to his starting line-up at the Walkers Stadium but is likely to keep any changes to a minimum for the clash with Brendan Rodgers' side.

Irvine said: "We are going to have to work hard against Reading otherwise all the work we put into getting such a good result at Leicester will not be quite as useful for us."