Reading vice-captain Tom Holmes has failed to recover from his back injury in time to take part in the eagerly anticipated Thames Valley Derby.

Boss Ruben Selles makes two changes, with Holmes replaced by Amadou Mbengue and Michael Craig starting in the place of Charlie Savage.

Two games unbeaten and on a run of two league defeats in 10, most of the side remains the same.

David Button will look for his second clean sheet in three matches, behind a four of Andy Yiadom; Tyler Bindon; Mbengue and Jeriel Dorsett.

Craig sits in midfield alongside Lewis Wing and Harvey Knibbs, while Paul Mukairu and Femi Azeez flank lone striker Sam Smith.

A Reading Academy graduate and former Oxford loanee, Smith has scored against the U's more than any other club in his career to date, including the equaliser in the meeting in Berkshire before Christmas.

Former Royal James Henry is on the bench for the hosts, having scored a last-minute equaliser against league leaders Portsmouth on Tuesday.