Church is out due to a one-match suspension after he was sent off for celebrating his injury-time equaliser at Bristol City last weekend, so Shane Long will again partner Grzegorz Rasiak in attack.
Chief scout Brian McDermott will take charge at home for the first time following last week's sacking of Brendan Rodgers and will hope for a better record at the Madejski Stadium than Rodgers - who won just once in front of the Royals fans.
Long-term absentees Noel Hunt (knee) and Brian Howard (jaw) remain out while left-back Chris Armstrong could make his first league appearance of the season after a summer knee operation.
Armstrong has been an unused sub for last two games and may feature as the Royals look for a win to pull clear of the drop zone.
Swansea captain Garry Monk is set to return to the side for the trip.
Monk has not featured for Paulo Sousa's men since October 31 because of a calf injury but is back in training and poised to make his comeback against the Royals.
Another to return is midfielder Mark Gower who has also been out of action since the end of October with a troublesome hamstring injury.
Sousa has no other injuries or suspension problems to contend with as his men look to keep up their pursuit of second-placed West Brom.
Sousa is likely to stick to playing with a lone striker, meaning that Lee Trundle, whose loan from Bristol City ends at the end of the month, will again have to settle for a place on the bench.
Sporting Life