READING will be looking to get back to winning ways at the Madejski Stadium tomorrow - but will face a tough test from table-topping Wigan Athletic.

And Royals go in to the match with their small squad stretched to the limit yet again.

Steven Sidwell, their most impressive performer so far this season, will be absent as he serves a one match ban for collecting five yellow cards.

Graeme Murty is expected to start at right back after returning as a substitute at Crewe last weekend, but John Mackie and Steve Brown are still unavailable with knee problems.

Ivar Ingimarsson will make his home league debut alongside Adie Williams at centre back.

Manager Steve Coppell, who has been stepping up his search for new recruits to boost his squad, must decide who will replace Sidwell in central midfield.

James Harper, Andy Hughes, Kevin Watson and Ricky Newman are all in contention to start.

Striker Shaun Goater, relegated to the bench in recent weeks as he struggles to find his best form, will be hoping that the loss of Sidwell sees Reading return to 4-4-2.

But it's more likely that a more solid 4-5-1 will again be used as Coppell looks to stop his side being over-run in the middle.

Darius Henderson could make the bench after making a return from injury in an unfamiliar centre back role during the reserves 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Royals goalscorers were Watson and Nathan Tyson.

The visitors are shock promotion contenders in their first-ever season in division one.

They are usually sound defensively, and with strikers of the calibre of Nathan Ellington, Geoff Horsfield and Andy Liddell, they now have a serious attacking threat too.