PRESTON come face to face with Nicky Forster - the striker who snubbed them in the close season - when they travel to face Reading tonight (kick off 7.45pm).

The former Birmingham City striker was all set to sign on at Deepdale in the summer until a last-minute u-turn saw him opt for the Royals.

Manager David Moyes is confident that £200,000 striker Steve Basham will shake off an ankle injury in time to run out at the Madejski Stadium.

The ex-Saints target man took a knock in Saturday's home defeat by Wigan.

Full-back Adam Eaton is thought to be back in the first team reckoning, but a trio of star turns are till struggling with injury.

Farid Diaf and Dominic Ludden are both sidelined with groin trouble while Lee Cartwright is hamered by a recurring knee problem.

Squad: Lucas, Alexander, Murdock, Jackson, Kidd, Rankine, Gregan, Appleton Eyres, Nogan, Basham, Macken, Edwards, Eaton, McKenna, Darby, Murphy, Wright, Moilanen.

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