Graeme Murty (calf) and Glen Little (Achilles) remain sidelined.
Watford defender Clarke Carlisle is banned and Jay DeMerit is rested so Dan Shittu will partner Adrian Mariappa, Lloyd Doyley or Cedric Avinel.
Full-back Jordan Stewart must come through a fitness test but Gavin Mahon is rated as only a 50/50 chance.
Watford (from): Foster, Lee, Loach, Doyley, Mariappa, Shittu, Avinel, Chambers, Powell, Stewart, Mahon, Bangura, Williamson, Rinaldi, Cavalli, Bouazza, King, Kabba, Henderson, Priskin, Hoskins.
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Federici, de la Cruz, Halford, Ingimarsson, Duberry, Bikey, Shorey, Seol, Oster, Harper, Sidwell, Gunnarsson, Hunt, Lita, Doyle, Kitson, Long.