Birmingham v Reading preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's final Championship clash of the season between Birmingham and Reading at St Andrew's (kick-off 12.30pm).

Birmingham could have Guirane N'Daw back in contention for the last game of the regular season.

N'Daw has not featured since sustaining a hamstring injury in the 3-3 draw at West Ham on Easter Monday but the Senegal international has resumed training and will be assessed ahead of the weekend.

Fellow midfielder Keith Fahey (groin) as well as defenders Jonathan Spector (thigh) and Stephen Carr (knee) will miss out at St Andrew's, although the trio have a chance of returning in time for the club's play-off challenge.

Centre-back Steven Caldwell (groin), however, will miss the rest of the season while it is also likely goalkeeper Boaz Myhill (thumb) will see no more action.

N'Daw's fitness test aside, it means manager Chris Hughton will have the same squad at his disposal as the one which claimed a 1-1 draw at Brighton last weekend.

Fifth-placed Blues go into the encounter one point behind Blackpool and one ahead of Cardiff, knowing they could still finish anywhere from fourth to sixth in the final standings.

Reading, meanwhile, will be without their talismanic striker Jason Roberts.

Roberts was sent off during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace last time out for an apparent elbow on Eagles defender Jonathan Parr and serves the first game of a three-match ban for the trip to St Andrew's.

The Royals have already secured promotion to the Premier League as champions but go up against the Blues looking to end the season on a high.

However, they may have to do so without the services of winger Jimmy Kebe, who missed last weekend's match with a knee injury and remains a doubt to face Birmingham.

Midfielder Jem Karacan remains sidelined with his broken ankle, while full-backs Matthew Connolly (ankle) and Joseph Mills (quad) are on the road to full fitness but may not feature.

Back-up goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen is still out of action with a knee knock.