Scott McKenna got the green light to return for Nottingham Forest as boss Chris Hughton made just one change to his starting line-up against Reading.
Defender McKenna had missed the midweek 0-0 draw with Watford due to a minor ankle problem, but was included in the XI at the Madejski Stadium.
Tobias Figueiredo was the man to miss out, dropping to the bench as Hughton opted for the partnership of McKenna and Joe Worrall in the heart of the back line.
And it looked set to be a similar 4-1-4-1 formation to that which had earned the Reds a point against the Hornets, and brought an end to a three-match losing streak in the process.
Worrall once again was handed the captain’s armband, with Cyrus Christie, on the right, and Yuri Ribeiro at left-back, completing the defence, ahead of goalkeeper Brice Samba.
Ryan Yates looked likely to take up the spot in front of the back four, while Cafu kept his place in midfield, following a promising full debut at the City Ground, alongside Harry Arter.
Joe Lolley and Anthony Knockaert would provide support for lone striker Lyle Taylor from the wings, though they could also be deployed in a 4-3-3 system.
There was a return for midfielder Samba Sow on the bench, following a spell on the sidelines, and youngster Will Swan was also once again among the substitutes.
The duo would be joined by Jordan Smith, Figueiredo, Sammy Ameobi, Carl Jenkinson, Miguel Angel Guerrero, Michael Dawson and Nicholas Ioannou.
Forest: Samba, Christie, Worrall, McKenna, Ribeiro, Yates, Lolley, Arter, Cafu, Knockaert, Taylor. Subs: Smith, Figueiredo, Ameobi, Jenkinson, Guerrero, Dawson, Sow, Ioannou, Swan.
