Reading will be without Andy Griffin and Jay Tabb, while Northampton are set to be without John Johnson.
Duo missing for Royals; Johnson set to sit out for Cobblers
Reading will be without Andy Griffin and Jay Tabb for the Carling Cup visit of Northampton on Tuesday evening.
Right-back Griffin lasted just nine minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest before limping out with a hamstring strain and he will miss out.
Midfielder Tabb will have an operation on his ankle this week and will be ruled out for six weeks but striker Noel Hunt will make his first start in 10 months as he builds up fitness from knee and ankle injuries.
Julian Kelly is still out with a shoulder injury so midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson could be asked to fill in at full-back against the League Two side - though out-of-favour Shaun Cummings is another option.
Ben Hamer will start in goal as manager Brian McDermott rotates his squad with the likes of Michail Antonio, Simon Church, Hal Robson-Kanu, Jake Taylor, Nicholas Bignall and Scott Davies also hoping to feature.
Northampton news
Northampton are set to be without right-back John Johnson for the trip to the Madejski Stadium.
The former Middlesbrough defender missed Saturday's 1-1 draw at Bury with a groin strain and will not be risked against Reading.
Goalkeeper Chris Dunn (ankle), defender Craig Hinton (knee) and winger Liam Davis (ankle) all remain sidelined as the Cobblers look to continue a three-match unbeaten run.
Midfielder Kevin Thornton and striker Tadhg Purcell are hoping to start as manager Ian Sampson makes several changes to his side.
Assistant Malcolm Crosby said: "We'll make changes but I don't think there will be too many as we don't want to unsettle the team too much.
"Kevin Thornton will be brought into the equation, I would think. He's a talented player and he's got to use the ball a bit better than he has been doing. He sees passes and sometimes he doesn't deliver the ball - I think he's got to start delivering because he is most definitely a talent. He'll be playing some part in the game at Reading, without a doubt."
