We currently lie 9th in the table, 2 points behind our opposition tomorrow who are in 7th. If we win this game then we could go 6th and our challenge for Europe would be back on. Fail to win and we're looking at finishing in the bottom half which would be a considerable disappointment after a great first half of the season. The outcome of this fixture will go a long way to determine what we achieve this season.
Winning the game is going to be very difficult despite the Royals' recent form of four straight defeats. That would be encouraging for us if our form wasn't so bad but we can take a lot from the performance against Chelsea but we need to replicate that kind of performance at the Madejski Stadium.
Our defense will still be without Lauren though Dejan Stefanovic might be recalled into the team to try and shut out the Reading attack that consists of the likes of Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle who have has great first seasons in the top flight.
The main problem we have is in midfield where our two first choice central midfielders are unavailable due to injury (Mendes) or suspension (Davis). So Richard Hughes will continue in the centre and hopefully Niko Kranjcar will play alongside him so we can see what he is truly capable of in his favourite position.
Up front I'd expect to see Kanu and Lomana LuaLua although Benjani is available again. We've been lacking goals recently so all of our strikers need to find their finishing touches once again, and the same could be said for our midfielders too.
I believe that man for man we have better players than Reading but the sum of their parts far outweighs the individual qualities they have and if our players even dare underestimate them then we're doomed right from the start, despite battering them at Fratton Park earlier in the season.
Both sides like to play good football so there's a good game in prospect here. I personally couldn't care how entertaining the game is tomorrow as long as we pick up the three very crucial points on offer.
The last time we played Reading on their turf the game ended goalless, but I can't see the same thing happening tomorrow.
Pundit Watch
Lawro: Home Win (2-1)
Sky Sports: Home Win (2-0)
Soccernet: Home Win