McAnuff has sat out the last three matches through suspension and may struggle to win his place back in the in-form Royals side.
Reading have won six of their last seven league games under McDermott and moved four points clear of the relegation zone with a 4-1 thumping of 10-men Derby on Wednesday night.
Right-back Andy Griffin is a slight concern after he came off near the end of the Rams win so Zurab Khizanishvili could start at full-back if required.
Simon Church came off the bench to score the fourth and may be recalled at the expense of Grzegorz Rasiak alongside in-form Shane Long, who has scored seven times in his last six appearances.
Noel Hunt and Chris Armstrong (both knee) remain sidelined while Jem Karacan (hand) and Kalifa Cisse (dead leg) are also out.
