Young defender Luke Potter became the latest Tykes defender to suffer an injury when he was ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury.
Potter, who impressed in Barnsley's Carling Cup victory against the Royals on Tuesday night, will undergo an operation after suffering cartilage damage.
Bobby Hassell is rated as doubtful as he continues to struggle with an ankle injury and the experienced Darren Moore is also struggling with an ankle problem.
Striker Andy Gray, a recent signing from Charlton, will be in contention to face Brendan Rodgers' side after being cup-tied in midweek.
Omar Thompson has been granted a work permit but is not expected to feature as he is still awaiting international clearance.
Reading manager Brendan Rodgers could hand debuts to Jobi McAnuff and Grzegorz Rasiak.
The pair arrived from Watford and Southampton respectively on Thursday and could both come into the side at Oakwell as Rodgers looks for his first league win in charge.
Winger Jimmy Kebe has been out of action since picking up a knock in the 3-0 defeat at Newcastle earlier this month but is close to a return to the side.
Should he again miss out Rodgers may stick with the 4-3-1-2 formation he fielded against Sheffield United last weekend where teenager Gylfi Sigurdsson excelled on his debut behind the front two.
Rodgers made a host of changes for the midweek Carling Cup defeat at home to Barnsley so the likes of Adam Federici, Liam Rosenior, Matt Mills, Jay Tabb, Noel Hunt and Shane Long could all come back into the starting line-up.
Czech Republic midfielder Marek Matejovsky has been hampered by a groin niggle all season but played the full 90 minutes in midweek to put himself in contention.
Sporting Life