Leeds will assess the condition of three of their key players. Captain Lee Peltier and midfielders Rodolph Austin (both ankle) and Michael Tonge (shoulder) only just made the weekend loss to Birmingham, and the trio will be checked to see if they can face Saints. Manager Neil Warnock has options if they do not make it, with veteran enforcer Michael Brown, full-back Aidy White and winger Luke Varney all standing by. Striker Andy Gray is also an option to Warnock should he decide to rest the out-of-form Luciano Becchio, but on-loan forward Ryan Hall is cup-tied. Reserve goalkeeper
Jamie Ashdown was given a chance against Everton in the previous round, as well as facing Oxford in the one before that, but Paddy Kenny is likely to start. Striker Ross McCormack remains on the sidelines with an ankle injury but is closing in on a return, potentially within the next fortnight.
Southampton's Tadanari Lee could return to action as manager Nigel Adkins rotates his squad. Japan international Lee is set to feature against the Championship outfit after sustaining an arm injury last month, while Frazer Richardson could also be involved against his former club after a thigh injury. Richard Chaplow, Jos Hooiveld and James Ward-Prowse were unused substitutes in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham and may start, while Jack Cork is close to full fitness after a knee injury.
Reading v Arsenal
Reading boss Brian McDermott is deciding whether to recall Danny Guthrie after controversially axing the midfielder at the weekend. McDermott denied reports of a bust-up with the former Newcastle player, who was left out of the squad for Saturday's 3-3 Premier League draw with Fulham. Reading have no fresh injury concerns for the game, Jem Karacan still sidelined with a knee injury that could keep him out until early December.
Arsenal will make a host of changes. Boss Arsene Wenger will field his second string as he continues to use the competition to expose his younger players to first-team action. Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain missed the 1-0 victory over QPR because of a hip injury and is absent again, though Laurent Koscielny, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud could feature. Andrei Arshavin is expected to start, but Emmanuel Frimpong will lead a collection of young players that includes Serge Gnabry, Thomas Eisfield and Ignasi Miquel.
Sunderland v Middlesbrough
Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill looks set to ring the changes. The Black Cats were again uninspiring in a 0-0 draw at Stoke on Saturday and playmaker Stephane Sessegnon could earn an immediate recall after being dropped for the clash in the Potteries. Phil Bardsley could also make his first start of the season at right-back, freeing up Craig Gardner to move into a more accustomed midfield role.
Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray will run the rule over Jonathan Woodgate and Marvin Emnes. Merouane Zemmama is back in training having recovered from a hamstring problem and he is expected to be in the squad. There are no movements on any of Boro's other injured contingent, with Luke Williams (hip), Kevin Thomson (calf), Rhys Williams (ankle), Lukas Jutkiewicz, Muzzy Carayol and Curtis Main (all knee) still occupying the treatment room.
Swindon Town v Aston Villa
Swindon look set to be without playmaker John Bostock. The Tottenham loanee, who shone in the Robins' 4-0 victory at Stevenage on Saturday, looks likely to miss the next few weeks after hobbling off with a groin injury. But Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio's options could be boosted by a return to the substitutes bench for striker Andy Williams, who has been out for more than three weeks with a calf injury. Nathan Thompson could also be available after recovering from an ankle problem, while fellow defender Troy Archibald-Henville is fit after having been sick in the build up to kick-off at Stevenage.
Aston Villa left-back Joe Bennett will be suspended at the County Ground. Bennett will have to serve a one-game ban for his sending-off for two bookable offences in Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Norwich in the Premier League. Striker Darren Bent and keeper Shay Given will be in contention to return to the starting line-up against Paolo Di Canio's side but winger Charles N'Zogbia is facing a spell on the sidelines with knee ligament damage suffered in training last week.
Wigan Athletic v Bradford City
Wigan are set to be without winger Ryo Miyaichi. The Japan international missed Saturday's victory over West Ham with a groin problem and is still struggling while fellow winger Albert Crusat (knee) and defender Antolin Alcaraz (groin) are also sidelined. Manager Roberto Martinez is expected to make several changes to his side, with strikers Callum McManaman and Mauro Boselli, who has already scored three goals in the competition this season, likely to come in.
Bradford boss Phil Parkinson will not take any unnecessary risks with captain Gary Jones.The midfielder returned from a five-week injury lay-off at the weekend in a defeat by Burton after a spell on the sidelines with a back problem. Parkinson was forced to turn to his skipper much earlier than intended due to Ricky Ravenhill's dismissal and completed just under an hour. But despite the club having two big cup games in a week - with an FA Cup trip to Northampton also looming at the weekend - and with injuries and suspensions robbing Parkinson of a number of his first-team players, the manager will keep a close eye on the 35-year-old ahead of the tie.
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