Reading can ill afford too many slip-ups over the course of the rest of the season, and matches like Saturday's at home to Yeovil Town are must-win encounters for them.
The Royals currently occupy the coveted sixth place in the Championship table, although their playoff fate is essentially out of their hands as Wigan Athletic sit just a point behind them with a game in hand.
Indeed, the three teams directly below Reading in the table all have a game in hand on them, making it even more important that they pick up maximum points on a consistent basis.
That is not something that they have found easy in recent weeks, losing two of their last three games, both of which came at home to sides below them in the league.
Three wins and three defeats in their last six matches is certainly not terrible form but, with a number of teams looking to pounce on any mistake, that ratio may not be good enough over the remainder of the season.
Their recent home form will worry and confuse Nigel Adkins as they followed back-to-back victories in which they scored 13 goals with two defeats without being able to find the back of the net.
Their tally of 50 goals scored this season is one only three teams in the league can beat, but they will need to find their scoring touch again sooner rather than later if they are to cling onto their playoff spot.
The hosts could be without Jason Roberts, Jem Karacan, Wayne Bridge, Mikele Leigertwood and Sean Morrison, all of whom are still struggling with injuries.
Yeovil, meanwhile, will be looking to continue their improvement in form as they attempt to haul themselves off the bottom of the Championship table.
The Glovers gave their survival hopes a massive boost with a crucial 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Doncaster Rovers last Saturday, leaving them just three points adrift of safety with a game in hand over 21st-placed Millwall.
A surprise victory this weekend could lift them out of the bottom three should other results go their way, but Charlton Athletic have at least two games in hand over all of the teams in the relegation mire, so it could only be a temporary reprieve.
Gary Johnson's side have lost four of their last five away league matches and have only won three times on their travels all season.
However, Yeovil have kept back-to-back clean sheets for the first time in the Championship, while their unbeaten streak now stretches to three games.
Johnson has a fully fit squad to choose from and could name an unchanged side to the one that recorded that valuable win over Doncaster last week.
Recent form
Reading: LWWLWL
Yeovil: LLLDDW
Possible starting lineups
Reading: McCarthy; Gunter, Pearce, Gorkss, Obita; McCleary, Akpan, Williams, McAnuff; Pogrebnyak, Le Fondre
Yeovil: Stech; Ayling, Webster, Duffy, McAllister; Lawrence, Ralls, Holmes, Edwards; Moore; Hayter
Sports Mole says: 2-0
Barney Corkhill
