A win this weekend would not only keep that gap intact, but it could see also see them leapfrog Nottingham Forest into fourth if results go their way.

Results certainly have gone their way in the last few weeks, with four wins from their last five matches and only one league defeat in 2014 so far.

The Royals have announced themselves as a potent attacking force during that spell, hitting seven past Bolton Wanderers, five past Blackpool and three without reply past Millwall in their most recent outing.

Fans may be expecting another flurry of goals, particularly at the Madejski, where Reading have scored 12 in their last two matches.

They have kept things relatively tight at the back during their recent purple patch too, conceding just five goals in their last six league games.

Hope Akpan could be fit despite being forced off during the win over Millwall, which means that Nigel Adkins may name an unchanged lineup.

Sheffield Wednesday's ambitions for the season are very different from Reading's, but they too have experienced a remarkable run of form that has seen them soar up the table.

The Owls scored a 97th-minute winner to beat Barnsley in a Yorkshire derby last weekend, a result that lifted them up to 17th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone.

Stuart Gray has worked wonders with the side since taking over, and they have now gone 10 matches unbeaten in all competitions.

The previously leaky defence has conceded just three times in their last seven Championship matches, while the attack has scored 12 in the same period.

Wednesday also have at least one game in hand over the majority of other teams in the league, so could find their position improve even further once they have made those up.

Away from home, the Owls have struggled to pick up wins with just two in their last seven in all competitions, but they are still unbeaten in that time, with the remaining five ending in draws.

However, Gray will be without Jermaine Johnson and Giles Coke for the match as both serve suspensions for recent red cards, while Anthony Gardner and Rafael Floro are ruled out through injury.

Recent form

Reading: LWWLWW

Sheff Weds: WWDWDW

Possible starting lineups

Reading: McCarthy; Gunter, Pearce, Gorkss, Obita; McCleary, Akpan, Williams, McAnuff; Pogrebnyak, Le Fondre

Sheff Weds: Kirkland; Palmer, Onyewu, Llera, Mattock; Maguire, Lee, Semedo, Maghoma, Helan; Nuhiu

Sports Mole says: 2-1