COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW.

Barnsley (15) v Cardiff (4) Barnsley midfielder Hugo Colace is doubtful with a groin injury and could face a late fitness test but skipper Stephen Foster returns from suspension. Strikers Iain Hume and Daniel Bogdanovic, midfielder Emil Hallfredsson and winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce have all been on international duty and manager Mark Robins is hoping they report back fit.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones faces an anxious wait over Peter Whittingham's fitness after a knee injury, though striker Michael Chopra returns from a one-match suspension. Last five league matches: Barnsley W L L W D; Cardiff D W W D L Top scorers (all competitions): Daniel Bogdanovic (Barnsley) 6; Michael Chopra & Peter Whittingham (Cardiff) 12 Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 11-5 Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire).

Coventry (17) v Crystal Palace (13) Coventry's former Carlisle goalkeeper Keiren Westwood is rated as 50/50 to return after a back injury. Central defender Ben Turner (knee) and midfielder Isaac Osbourne (ankle) are certain to miss out while captain Stephen Wright is an injury doubt.

Paddy McCarthy (shoulder) looks set to miss out for Palace, so Claude Davis and Jose Fonte will continue at the back. Young winger Sean Scannell suffered a hamstring injury playing for the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side.

Last season: Crystal Palace 1 Coventry 1, Coventry 0 Crystal Palace 2 Last five league matches: Coventry L L D L L; Crystal Palace L D D D W Top scorers (all competitions): Leon Best (Coventry) 7; Darren Ambrose (Crystal Palace) 10 Match odds: H 7-5 A 8-5 D 21-10 Referee: Jarnail Singh (Middlesex).

Doncaster (20) v QPR (5) Doncaster will be without suspended skipper Martin Woods, while Dean Shiels (ankle) and Jason Shackell (groin) face late fitness tests. But Rovers could be boosted by the return of defenders Adam Lockwood (foot) and Byron Webster (elbow). New loan signings Steven Reid and Tommy Williams have been added to the QPR squad. Boss Jim Magilton swooped for Blackburn midfielder Reid after serious knee injuries accounted for Martin Rowlands and Gavin Mahon. Last season: Doncaster 2 QPR 0, QPR 2 Doncaster 0 Last five league matches: Doncaster L W L D L; QPR W W L D W Top scorers (all competitions): Billy Sharp (Doncaster) 5; Jay Simpson (QPR) 7 Match odds: H 7-4 A 13-10 D 21-10 Referee: A Bates (Staffordshire).

Ipswich (23) v Sheff Wed (16) Ipswich manager Roy Keane has been boosted by the return of defenders Tommy Smith (hand) and Gareth McAuley (thigh). Midfielders Luciano Civelli and David Norris are both making good progress in their recovery from serious knee injuries.

Wednesday midfielder Tommy Miller is doubtful with a hamstring injury and could be replaced by Sean McAllister. Michael Gray could return from a hamstring strain.

Last season: Ipswich 1 Sheff Wed 1, Sheff Wed 0 Ipswich 0 Last five league matches: Ipswich D D D W D; Sheff Wed W L L D L Top scorers (all competitions): Jonathan Walters (Ipswich) 4; Marcus Tudgay (Sheff Wed) 6 Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5 Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex).

Leicester (7) v Plymouth (21) Leicester manager Nigel Pearson will have Andy King (arm) back but fellow midfielder Matt Oakley will definitely miss the match after picking up a one-match ban for collecting five yellow cards. Plymouth are boosted by the return of skipper and central midfielder Carl Fletcher from a one-match suspension. Argyle boss Paul Sturrock waits on the fitness of wingers Alan Judge (knee) and Craig Noone (foot). On-loan Manchester United right-back David Gray (hip) is another doubt.

Last season: No corresponding fixture Last five league matches: Leicester D W W W L; Plymouth L L D W W Top scorers (all competitions): Matt Fryatt (Leicester) 10; Jamie Mackie (Plymouth) 4 Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2 Refere e: Danny McDermid (Middlesex).

Sheff Utd (14) v Peterborough (24) Sheffield United skipper Chris Morgan will return from suspension but striker Darius Henderson is banned under the totting-up procedure. Derek Geary (knee), Lee Williamson (back), Matthew Kilgallon (ankle), Andrew Davies (hip) and Jordan Stewart (calf) should be available. Mark Cooper has a fully-fit squad available for his first game in charge of Peterborough. Left-back Tommy Williams has joined QPR on loan since Posh's last game so Tommy Rowe, Jamie Day or Scott Griffiths will start at full-back. Last season: No corresponding fixture Last five league matches: Sheff Utd L L L L D; Peterborough D L W L L Top scorers (all competitions): Darius Henderson (Sheff Utd) 7; George Boyd (Peterborough) 10 Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 23-10 Referee: Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire).

Watford (12) v Scunthorpe (19) Ross Jenkins (back) and Jay DeMerit (eye) are still missing for Watford. Back-up goalkeeper Richard Lee (knee) is the Hornets' only other injury absentee. Rookie keeper Jonathan Bond, 16, will be on the bench again as back-up to Scott Loach, who lines up fresh from keeping two clean sheets for England's Under-21s. Scunthorpe will welcome back Gary Hooper and Josh Wright is also in contention after the duo missed the 4-1 defeat at Blackpool a fortnight ago due to illness. Last season: No corresponding fixture Last five league matches: Watford W D W L W; Scunthorpe W W L L L Top scorers (all competitions): Tom Cleverley & Danny Graham (Watford) 6; Gary Hooper & Grant McCann (Scunthorpe) 6 Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10 Referee: Chris Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Middlesbrough (10) v Nottm Forest (9) Middlesbrough will hand a debut to Dave Kitson after he joined on loan from Stoke and he could join former Reading team-mate Leroy Lita in attack. Austria defender Emanuel Pogatetz could start, wearing a protective face mask following a broken cheekbone. Isaiah Osbourne, on loan from Aston Villa, will make his home debut while Didier Digard should return to the squad after proving his fitness. Marvin Emnes could miss out with a cold. Forest manager Billy Davies may be able to welcome back striker Dexter Blackstock. Last season: No corresponding fixture Last five league matches: Middlesbro ugh L W D L L; Nottm Forest W W D D D Top scorers (all competitions): Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough) 9; Dexter Blackstock (Nottm Forest) 6 Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5 Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Reading (22) v Blackpool (6) Reading will be without striker Shane Long, who is nursing an ankle injury. Noel Hunt could be out for the rest of the season after knee surgery and full-backs Chris Armstrong (knee) and Julian Kelly (shoulder) are also sidelined.

Blackpool will be without Algeria midfielder Hameur Bouazza, who will remain with the national team as they meet president Abdelaziz Bouteflika to celebrate their World Cup qualification. Last season: Blackpool 2 Reading 2, Reading 1 Blackpool 0 Last five league matches: Reading L L L W D; Blackpool W W D D W Top scorers (all competitions): Simon Church & Grzegorz Rasiak (Reading) 3; Charlie Adam & Ben Burgess (Blackpool) 6Match odds: H 10-11 A 2-1 D 11-5 Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire).