Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray will be without striker Marvin Emnes.
The Dutchman serves the second game of a three-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by the Football Association following an incident in last weekend's 2-1 victory at Sheffield United.
Mowbray's resources have been further depleted by injuries to central defender Seb Hines and midfielder Merouane Zemmama following the 3-3 draw at Ipswich in midweek.
Hines broke his jaw in two places while Zemmama suffered a hamstring injury and both are likely to miss the rest of the season.
Midfielder Nicky Bailey is also not expected to figure again before the end of the campaign because of ankle ligament damage but Barry Robson (hamstring) could return and Willo Flood is in contention after playing 90 minutes for the reserves in midweek, his third appearance for the second string following his return from a dislocated kneecap.
However, Jonathan Franks and Luke Williams (both ankle), Leroy Lita and Justin Hoyte (both hamstring) and Jason Steele (torn side muscle) remain on the sidelines.
Barnsley midfielder Hugo Colace faces a race to be fit.
The Argentinian was forced out of last Saturday's home win over Bristol City and missed the midweek defeat to QPR at Oakwell due to a knee injury, with Jacob Mellis, on loan from Chelsea, stepping into the starting line-up.
Bobby Hassell has been sidelined for the last two games with ankle and hamstring trouble and is not ready to return but fellow defender Jay McEveley, who recently returned from a knee injury, made his comeback off the bench in midweek and is pushing for a place in Mark Robins' starting line-up.
Robins has no other new injury or suspension problems and is unlikely to make too many changes as his side bids to finish the season in the top half of the table.
