With Brian Howard not fully recovered from the broken cheekbone he suffered at Barnsley, Kalifa Cisse is expected to continue in midfield alongside Marek Matejovsky.
Defender Chris Armstrong is also nearing full fitness after recovering from a knee injury.
Shane Long serves the second of a three-game ban after being sent off for violent conduct against Derby and Noel Hunt remains a long-term injury absentee after surgery on his knee.
That means Rodgers will look to Grzegorz Rasiak to lead the line as Reading seek to register only their second home win in the last 11 months.
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock could shake up his forward line.
The Eagles fired blanks as they crashed to a 3-0 home defeat by Doncaster on Saturday so West Ham loanee Freddie Sears is pushing for a place in attack.
Fellow striker Calvin Andrew should also be involved again having made three substitute appearances since recovering from the cruciate injury he suffered at the end of last season.
Winger Sean Scannell was also on the bench on Saturday after a hamstring problem and could figure.
Warnock has no new injury worries, with defender Paddy McCarthy the only casualty after his recent shoulder operation.
Young left-back Lee Hills serves the final game of his three-match ban.
Sporting Life