RIVAL bosses Stan Ternent and Alan Pardew will be friends reunited tonight although both men will be desperate to heap more misery on an old colleague.

Clarets boss Stan Ternent explained: "Alan used to play at Palace when I was the coach there and he is a good lad.

"He has done very well at Reading and I am pleased for him. He has got a good side, an attacking side and it is a good place to go to.

"It is a nice stadium, a lovely place to play and we are looking forward to it."

But as he looks to select a side capable of getting the first points of the season, Ternent continues to be dogged by injury problems that are severely restricting his options.

At the weekend he only had 16 fit senior players available for the clash with Sheffield United and he is likely to be in a similar position again, if not worse.

"I am hoping that things are going to get better but I don't think Steve Davis will be right for tonight," he said.

"Lee Briscoe is looking like he is 50-50 to play but neither Brad Maylett nor Gordon Armstrong has a chance."

Amid that gloomy news is the hope that Tony Grant might be fit to come back into the squad having missed the last couple of games with a foot problem while Paul Cook, who led the side last weekend, will not start his suspension until Saturday.

Grant may be in line for an immediate recall as the manager was disappointed with the display of Paul Weller against Sheffield United and took him off at half time.

The 27-year-old has been hampered by his lack of pre-season training and could make way for Grant in a five man midfield.

The shape of the side will be crucial and Ternent has been using Gareth Taylor as a lone striker, albeit supported by Glen Little and Ian Moore in the first half on Saturday.

Ternent did change things around a bit after the break with Moore pushed forward alongside Taylor and Lennie Johnrose filling a left midfield role and the fact that they then created a number of chances might persuade him to stick with a formation that will mirror the home side.

There maybe question marks about the shape and personnel to be used tonight but the first name on the team sheet could be Mark McGregor.

The injury to Steve Davis and Arthur Gnohere's three match suspension has handed him the chance to show what he can do in the centre of defence and he responded with a superb display against the Blades.

Today Ternent was still enthusing about it as he said: "He was fantastic on Saturday and he had also done well for us at left back against Wolves.

"He has really staked a claim for the shirt, even when everyone else is fit and available.

"He has had to be patient to get his chance in the side but he has really taken it well.

"Arthur's been out, the skip's out and he has grabbed his chance with both hands.

"If he keeps playing like he did he will take some shifting from the team."

What Ternent will be hoping is that the rest of the side reaches the levels set by McGregor and that might see the team's fortunes start to turn around.