Luton Town and Reading will face each other for the third time this season when they meet in the FA Cup third round this weekend.

Both previous games have been played at the Madejski Stadium - the Hatters won the League Cup fixture in September 1-0, while the Royals were 2-1 victors in the Championship on Boxing Day.

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Attentions will now turn to Kenilworth Road, where Luton have not been beaten in their last six games, while Norwich City, Bournemouth and Bristol City have all dropped points in Bedfordshire since the start of last month.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's first goal for the club proved to be the winner in a 2-1 victory over the Robins at the end of December, before the Hatters' fixture against Queens Park Rangers last weekend was postponed after a number of players and staff returned positive Covid tests.

This weekend's tie is set to go ahead as planned though as Luton aim to get past the third round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2013, when they made it to the fifth round as a Conference Premier side, beating Norwich of the Premier League along the way.

The club have never won the competition but reached the final in 1959, while last season they were thrashed 4-0 by Bournemouth in round three.

Nathan Jones condemned his team's lack of quality in the final third following defeat in Berkshire a fortnight ago so will be keen to put that right as he prepares to face Reading once again so soon.

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The Royals are currently fifth in the Championship table after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Huddersfield Town last weekend thanks to Lucas Joao's brace.

It followed a hard-fought 0-0 draw away to Swansea, meaning Veljko Paunovic's side have lost just one of their last six matches on the road.

This will be Paunovic's first taste of the FA Cup after being appointed at the start of the campaign, with the Serbian saying that winning the competition is on every manager's bucket list.

Reading have never lifted the trophy but have reached the semi-finals twice, most recently in 2015 when they lost to Arsenal in extra-time at Wembley.

Last season, the Royals got to round five, having won replays against Blackpool and Cardiff City, before losing to Sheffield United.

Luton Town FA Cup form: LWWDLL
Luton Town form (all competitions): DWLDLW

Reading FA Cup form: LDWDWL
Reading form (all competitions): WLLWDW

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Jones has said that he has a fully-fit squad to choose from except for Martin Cranie, who remains sidelined with an unspecified injury.

The Luton boss has hinted that former Reading man Gabriel Osho could make his Hatters debut against his former club after returning from a loan spell at Yeovil Town.

Paunovic has said that he is keen to give opportunities to fringe players and youngsters at the weekend but still wants to name a competitive team.

As a result, Luke Southwood is likely to start in goal, while there may also be chances for academy players Ethan Bristow and Tennai Watson.

The game could also present the chance for striker George Puscas to start his first game in two months after a groin injury.

Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Sluga; Osho, Lockyer, Bradley, Norrington-Davies; Rea; Cornick, Berry, Dewsbury-Hall, Clark; Collins

Reading possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Esteves, Holmes, McIntyre, Bristow; Watson, Swift; Aluko, Semedo, Baldock; Puscas

We say: Luton Town 2-1 Reading

Luton are likely to rotate far less than Reading, and Jones will be eager for revenge after defeat in Berkshire on Boxing Day, meaning we think the Hatters will progress from this tie. There will be several Reading players eager to impress, though, and they could take it to extra-time.

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