Reading defender Graeme Murty is a doubt for tomorrow's visit of Portsmouth in the Barclays Premiership because of a toe injury.
Record signing Greg Halford stands by for a debut, although Ulises de la Cruz and Brynjar Gunnarsson are also in contention.
Striker Kevin Doyle is back to full fitness following a spell out with a hamstring injury but Ibrahima Sonko and Bobby Convey are both out for the season following knee operations.
Portsmouth go into their battle for UEFA Cup qualification at Reading without three key midfielders.
Lauren (thigh), Pedro Mendes (ankle) and Sean Davis, who is banned after five yellow cards, will all miss the clash at the Madejski Stadium.
Noe Pamarot (back) is another doubt but skipper Dejan Stefanovic is back in the squad after 17 matches following a knee operation in November while Glen Johnson returns at right-back having missed out against Chelsea.
Croatian Niko Kranjcar stands by for a rare start in midfield. Defender Linvoy Primus and reserve keeper Jamie Ashdown face their former club, who are two points ahead of Pompey, while Kanu and Lomana LuaLua again look like getting manager Harry Redknapp's vote up front.
Reading squad: Hahnemann, Murty, Halford, de la Cruz, Gunnarsson, Bikey, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Lita, Kitson, Doyle, Long, Federici, Duberry, Sodje, Bennett, Oster, Seol.
Portsmouth squad: James; Johnson, Primus, Stefanovic, Campbell, Traore, Pamarot, O'Brien, O'Neil, Hughes, Kranjcar, Taylor, Kanu, LuaLua, Cole, Benjani, Douala, Mvuemba, Todorov, Ashdown.
