Reading-Everton Preview

LONDON (SE) - After beating Oldham 3-1 in a midweek FA Cup replay, Everton will try not to be distracted by the potential of a Wembley semi-final when they return to Premier League duty against relegation-threatened Reading at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The Toffees are battling on two fronts as they face Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup quarter finals later this month and are not yet completely out of the race for a Champions League place, trailing fourth place Chelsea by seven points.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard is hopeful that his side is poised to peak at just the right moment despite having lost consecutive games in the league for the first time this season.

"I don't think we are firing on all cylinders," Howard told the club website. "And at the moment, I think that's a good thing. We have advanced in the cup and have a home draw. And you look at the league table and we're still in the thick of it.

"We have to start doing the business but we are still in there. We seem to be higher up the league at this stage of the season than we have been in a while. We don't have a large squad, so it's going to be about big players stepping up to the plate and producing when it matters."

Reading (5-8-14) dropped back into the relegation zone last weekend after a humbling 3-0 home defeat to Wigan ended a run of five without a loss at the Madejski Stadium.

Captain Jobi McAnuff believes it is important that the Royals don't panic as they seek the points they need to stave off the drop.

"It's very easy to go overboard after a bad day which Saturday was," he told the club website. "We're remaining very positive. It's still very tight around there and our time to be judged is at the end of the season. The result isn't going to define our season or decide our fate. We've got eleven games to go and a lot of points to play for. We know the job we have to do.

"We'll back ourselves to get the points we need to stay up. We've got some good games to look forward to and we're just going to stick together as a group of players and as a club, remain positive and moving forward to get the positive results we need to."

Striker Jason Roberts (hip) is still out for Reading, as is goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (shoulder). Russia international Pavel Pogrebnyak is suspended, so top scorer Adam Le Fondre may get his chance from the start at Goodison.

Tony Hibbert is out for Everton but Marouane Fellaini and Victor Anichebe will have fitness tests before the game.

Reading came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at the Madejski in November. Steven Naismith gave the Toffees and early lead, but two second-half goals from Le Fondre, including a penalty, secured Reading's first win of the season. It was their only victory in their first 19 games of the Premier League season.

Everton (10-12-5) have lost just once at home this season (a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea), matching them with Manchester United, Manchester City and Stoke City for fewest home defeats in the league this season. The Toffees have lost only once in their last 17 home Premier League matches dating back to last season.

Reading have been the worst away side in the division, taking just five points from 13 games and have yet to keep a clean sheet away this season. The Royals have lost seven of their last eight Premier League matches away from the Madejski.