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Harper: Captain's armband

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Reading manager Steve Coppell will again name midfielder James Harper as captain as the Madejski Stadium hosts its first Championship fixture since April 2006 when Plymouth visit.

Harper will lead out the Royals as right-back Graeme Murty is still sidelined with a calf injury. Liam Rosenior will continue in his place.

Czech Republic midfielder Marek Matejovsky sustained an ankle injury in last weekend's goalless draw at Nottingham Forest and will be out for around three weeks.

Stephen Hunt will be asked to continue his shift at left-back unless Coppell completes a transfer before kick-off, while younger brother Noel will be hoping to be involved.

Noel was given his debut at Dagenham & Redbridge in midweek and scored the winner but he will probably have to settle for a place on the bench as Coppell continues with his first-choice strike-force of Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle.

The Royals are also without midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson (knee) and defenders Michael Duberry (hamstring) and Sam Sodje (knee).

Debuts

Plymouth could hand debuts to David McNamee and Craig Noone.

Right-back McNamee - signed from Coventry on a free transfer during the close season - was ruled out of last week's 2-2 draw against Wolves and Tuesday's Carling Cup exit at Luton by a hamstring injury but is now fit again.

Winger Noone, 20, joined the Pilgrims on Wednesday from non-League Southport.

Gary Sawyer, who has missed the opening two matches, is getting a second opinion on his hamstring injury and is again likely to miss out.

Goalkeeper Romain Larrieu (groin) has been an unused substitute so far and could play at a push, but the likelihood is that Graham Stack will keep the jersey against his former club.

On-loan Manchester United central defender Craig Cathcart should make his Championship debut.