The Royals host Burnley in the second leg of the Coca-Cola Championship play-off semi-final at Madejski Stadium this evening, and the official site has a complete match preview ahead of tonight's decisive encounter.

Kick-off reminder
The game kicks off at 7:45pm, which is earlier than our normal evening games. Please leave extra travel time.

No away goals
Please note that away goals do not count double at any stage of the play-offs. If aggregate scores are level at the end of 90 minutes, there will be two periods of extra time, each 15 minutes long. There is no silver goal or golden goal. If aggregate scores remain level at the end of extra time, the game will be decided by penalty kicks.

The team who progresses will play Sheffield United in the final at Wembley on Monday 25th May, 3pm kick off.

Travel and parking
Stagecoach Buses are running 15 minutes earlier than normal timetables. Reading Buses services are at normal times. For full details, as well as parking info, click here.

Team news - Reading
Steve Coppell says he will go back to a 4-4-2 formation, and is likely to make at least two changes to his team.

Andre Bikey serves the first of a four-game suspension after his red card in the first leg, while Kevin Doyle is also set to miss out after picking up an achilles injury.

Bikey's place will almost certainly go to either Alex Pearce or Kalifa Cisse, although Coppell has indicated he could break the mould and play someone out of position because Burnley only play with one man up front. At the other end, Dave Kitson will play if Doyle is ruled out.

Glen Little will come into the reckoning for a start, so too Stephen Hunt.

Simon Church and David Mooney fight it out for a place on the bench, but Leroy Lita is not quite ready yet to feature despite training for the last couple of days.

Brynjar Gunnarsson is fine despite hobbling off at Turf Moor and is available.

James Harper also trained but is not available. Chris Armstrong, Noel Hunt, Ivar Ingimarsson and Graeme Murty are out. Harper and Armstrong could be back if we make it to the final.

Team news - Burnley
Owen Coyle awaits news on Chris Eagles, Wade Elliott and Joey Gudjonsson ahead of tonight's encounter.

Eagles and Gudjonsson were both withdrawn during Saturday's match, while Elliott missed out completely.

There are no other fresh injury concerns, with Russell Anderson a long-term cruciate knee injury victim.

Form - Reading
Much has been said about Reading's home form in 2009, with no victories for the Royals in their last eight attempts.

Steve Coppell and the players have often pointed to the Madejski Stadium pitch as a partial reason for the disappointing form, but the surface is in cracking condition and should help our team this evening.

Form - Burnley
The Clarets' last away win was at the end of March when they won 2-1 at Plymouth thanks to a late Robbie Blake strike. Since then they have not won in three, losing to Cardiff and drawing at Derby and Southampton. In the entire campaign they won seven games on the road, the ninth-highest number of away victories in the division.

Head-to-head
The two teams have met 32 times over the years, and Reading have a better record with 13 wins to the Clarets' nine. The remaining ten have been drawn. Burnley have never won at Madejski Stadium in eight attempts.

Clap banners
5,000 clap banners will be handed out at tonight's play-off semi-final second leg with Burnley. STAR volunteers will be at turnstiles handing out our banners ahead of this decisive encounter.

Ticket news
Tickets are on general sale to all Member Card holders right up until kick off. Telephone 0844 249 1871, use the online ticketing service or visit in person.

Match officials
High profile Premier League official Mike Riley takes charge of this game, and he is assisted by J Flynn and M Bull. Andy D'Urso is fourth official.

On the pitch
Football freestyler and Guiness World Record holder Dan Magness will perform at 7:15pm.

Manager's thoughts - Reading
Steve Coppell: "We are looking forward to it. There is so much to gain from this and it is a great opportunity. We have a job to do, the lion's share of a job to do and I'm just glad we have the opportunity."

Manager's thoughts - Burnley
Owen Coyle: "We have to make sure we are focused. We have given ourselves an advantage, but that's all it is. It's finely balanced, there's no doubt about it.

Latest betting
Reading to win - 10/11
Draw - 23/10
Burnley to win - 16/5
Reading win 2-0 - 7/1
Tabb first in 2-0 win - 55/1
Many more at Bet365

Commentator's insight
Michael Gilkes is in the hotseat as expert summariser for this game, and he works alongside commentator Andy West. Andy expects a dramatic evening, saying, "The form book goes out of the window on an evening like this and it is a time when legends can be made. Steve Coppell and the team have worked so hard to get to this position and they will put their bodies on the line to succeed." Listen to full commentary on Reading World or at 107.0FM on your FM radio for our radio station Reading 107.