READING travel to take on Barnsley at Oakwell in a relegation battle that could be season-defining.
With both teams fighting for their lives for Championship survival, the Royals head into the match five points clear of Barnsley who are in 22nd.
Paul Ince’s men went into the international break with renewed hope after they picked up a valuable away point at Bournemouth before they beat Blackburn Rovers to improve their survival chances.
Since their costly defeat away to Derby County earlier in the month, the Tykes have picked up five points from their last four games.
They were pegged back late by both Stoke City and Fulham and had to settle for draw, but picked up a vital win at home to Bristol City.
However, they were dealt defeat at Sheffield United in their last game prior to the break to leave them still in the relegation places.
36-year-old Barnley manager Poya Asbaghi will face Reading for the first time after taking charge at Oakwell in November.
While Reading will be hoping to complete a league double over Barnsley that could be pivotal to securing life in the Championship.
Reading earned three points at the Select Car Leasing Stadium over the Tykes in October thanks to John Swift’s superb solo effort in the 77th minute.
Barnsley have conceded 19 fewer goals than the Royals this season, but their problems have mainly come at the other end of the pitch where they have scored less goals than any other team in the division this season.
They have found thet net just 28 times from 38 games which has put them in serious danger of facing the drop to League One just a year after reaching the play-offs last year under previous head coach Valerien Ismael.
