On Tuesday night, Reading are the visitors to the John Smith Stadium to face Huddersfield Town as the two sides face each other for the fourth time this season.
Although there are seven positions between the two sides with Reading sitting in 11th and Huddersfield sitting in the 18th position, only five points separate the two sides.
Reading has slipped down the table after an excellent start to the season whereas Huddersfield started poorly and have been resurgent, tonight may be the crossroads.
Two of the games that these sides have faced each other has ended 2-2, one in the F.A Cup tie at the John Smith Stadium, the other in the league at the Madejski stadium. However, Reading have the upper hand having defeated Huddersfield 5-2 after Jonathan Hogg was sent off in the FA cup replay.
It will be interesting to see how far Huddersfield has come as in both FA Cup games, they were more than in the contest until refereeing decisions in both, changed the momentum and effect of the game.
It will be an intriguing battle considering how often Reading and Huddersfield has faced each other, as after tonight they'll have faced each other 7 times within the space of two seasons.
This article looks at THREE things to look out for in tonight's match between Huddersfield and Reading...............
1) Huddersfield need a win
Despite the fact that Huddersfield still have a comfortable seven point gap on the relegation zone and the West Yorkshire side have far superior goal difference, relegation fears are beginning to appear albeit prematurely.
However with a difficult run in, David Wagner will be hoping that Huddersfield can secure a victory tonight which will alleviate some of the pressure that his side has begun to come under.
Although there are no questions about Huddersfield's attractive style of play or consistently dominant performances that they have put in since Wagner's arrival, over the past couple of games, they have struggled to find the net and the lack of a cutting edge has cost them games.
Nahki Wells' drop in form and the lack of goals from elsewhere has underpinned the struggle over the past two games but Wagner knows that tonight will be a huge opportunity to win.
Wagner will have the side fired up particularly following the FA cup replay defeat and I wouldn't be surprised to see Huddersfield come out the traps quickly and look to score early on to settle any nerves the players may be feeling.
2) Reading's focus will be elsewhere
Reading's hopes of the play-offs are all but over, fans interest in the league is waning as the focus has now turned to the FA Cup.
With Reading facing Crystal Palace in the Quarter Final of the FA Cup on Friday, Brian McDermott may look to rest players as there will only be a three day turn around before the tie.
Even if he was to play a full strength team, there's no doubt that the players minds will be on the quarter-final and another potential trip to Wembley for two consecutive years.
The mentality may be an issue with losses of concentration and Reading players being wary of diving into challenges which could potentially injure them and leave them out of the tie against Crystal Palace.
McDermott himself may have his mind on Friday's tie and therefore, his decision making and substitutions he makes may reflect that.
Reading has enough points already to be able to place the emphasis and focus on the cup competition rather than the league and that could play into Huddersfield's favour.
3) Reading have a new found resilience
Since a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich, Reading have gone 5 games unbeaten having beaten Rotherham and Charlton and drawn with Burnley, Wolves and Fulham.
It reflects the similar form that they had at the beginning of the season before plummeting out of the promotion picture to mid-table mediocrity.
McDermott will be hoping his side can go 6 games unbeaten and have a strong end to the season that they could build on next season to mount a playoff or even promotion challenge.
There's no doubt that Reading have the players capable of succeeding at this level but they have to find the consistency that they have found over the past 5 games on a more regular basis.
McDermott will be hoping that over the last two months of this season including tonight's match that they can replicate the form and success that they have managed to find in the cup competitions.
If they can, then it's not beyond the realms of possibility for Reading to make the transition from a comfortable mid-table side to one that can be challenging for promotion.
