Reading head to the Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon looking to get back to winning ways after a slump in form. 

The Royals are without a win in four, but still sit just one place out of the Play-off spaces after coming from behind twice to claim a draw at home to struggling Huddersfield Town on Tuesday.

Cardiff meanwhile are sitting in ninth place, and could jump into the top six should they beat the Royals and other results go their way.

Here are three things to look out for in this highly anticipated clash:

1) Cardiff's attacking threats

One criticism of the Bluebirds so far this season is that they haven't got enough shots away and subsequently have been short on goals.

They've netted just 15 times so far this season, the least in the top half of the division, and will need to start finding the net with more regularity if they are to sustain a promotion push.

One plus for manager Russell Slade is that Kenwyne Jones is returning from injury and could well feature against the Royals.

The visitors will have to be careful about his aeriel prowess and ability to carve through defences if he indeed makes an appearance.

2) Steve Clarke's tactical decisions

After three draws and a loss in their last four, Reading boss Steve Clarke may well mix up his tactics and divert from his favoured 4-4-2 formation. They've also started to concede goals, something which happened infrequently at the start of the season.

A tactical revamp could well be necessary if the Royals are going to recapture their early season form which saw them rise as high as second in the table.

It looks like the former West Brom boss will be without four first team players for the trip to the Welsh capital, which will force him into personnel change, and may force him into tactical changes.

If the Royals turn up like they did against Middlesbrough and Burnley, Cardiff could well be in for a long afternoon.

3) Nick Blackman  

The in-form wide man hasn't scored in the last three games, and will be looking to end his mini-drought with a goal or more against the Bluebirds.

Generally when Blackman is playing well, so are Reading, and he showed how he can take the game to his opponents against Brighton and Hove Albion, when he drove forward at every possible opportunity. I wouldn't be surprised if he put in a similar performance against Cardiff this afternoon.

Where Clarke decides to play his nine goal man remains to be seen, but a more central role, where he played for much of the early season, may bring back that scintillating form.

Cardiff and Reading fans... what do you think the score will be? Can Cardiff get a first win in three? Or will Reading end a run of no win in four? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!