It's all hands to the pump for injury-ravaged Oxford United, who face a severe test of the depth of their squad in tonight's derby against Reading.

Danny Brown and Lee Molyneaux look set to return for the Carling Cup first-round tie at the Kassam Stadium (7.45).

Brown seems certain to come back into a depleted midfield and Molyneaux could step in at right back following injuries to Barry Quinn and Dave Mackay.

Mackay was last night rated 50-50 after his hamstring tightened in the second half of Saturday's 0-0 draw at Leyton Orient.

Who replaces winger Chris Hackett (knee) is a more tricky selection dilemma for boss Graham Rix.

He could drop Lee Bradbury back into the centre and play a diamond mid- field.

But that would require Paul Wanless playing at the back of the diamond, and 'Wanny' is another major doubt after picking up a neck injury in Saturday's game.

Young players Danny Morgan and Tom Winters are standing by for their first appearances in the squad this season, and Jamie Brooks, who came on in the pre-season friendly against Chelsea, is a possible for the bench.

In addition to Quinn, Hackett, Mackay and Wanless, Dave Woozley, Mark E'Beyer and Mark Rawle are all sidelined.

Rawle is seeing a specialist to try to discover the reason for his groin injury.

Reading manager Steve Coppell will also make changes - but for him it's through choice, to give players who haven't yet had a game some action.

Lloyd Owusu and Shaun Goater could start up front instead of the regular front two, Dave Kitson and Nicky Forster.

The Berkshire club's fans have been given the whole of the North Stand after crowd trouble marred last season's derby when the two sets of supporters shared the stand.

By last night the Royals had sold around 2,300 tickets, so a gate of between 7,000 and 8,000 is expected. The match is not all-ticket.

Oxford Utd: (from) Tardif, Molyneaux, Ashton, Roget, Robinson, Wolleaston, Wanless, Bradbury, Brown, Mooney, Basham, Mackay, Alsop, Cox, Parker, Louis, Garner, Winters, Morgan, Brooks, Alexis.

Reading: (from) Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Williams, Ingimarsson, Hughes, Sidwell, Harper, Convey, Owusu, Goater, Forster, Kitson, Little, Young, Brooker, Newman, Sonko.