JAAP Stam is set to ring the changes in the EFL Cup once again as Reading FC travel to Brighton for a third round clash tonight (7.45pm ko).

Garath McCleary serves the first of a three-match ban for his red card at Barnsley on Saturday, while Danny Williams is suspended for one match for picking up five yellows.

With the likes of Joey van den Berg, Yakou Meite, Jake Cooper and Deniss Rakels all ruled out through injury, Stam is set to make wholesale changed to the side that won 2-1 at Oakwell on Saturday.

Stam said: “Obviously there will be a few changes against Brighton with Danny and Garath both suspended.

“We’ve got quite a big squad and a lot of quality players within the squad. Everyone needs to make their minutes so we need to have a look at what we’ll be doing against Brighton.”

With Stam set to utilise all of his squad for the Amex Stadium trip, players including Joseph Mendes, Callum Harriott and Dominic Samuel could all be involved for the visitors.

The sides met in the Championship only last month as goals from John Swift and Paul McShane secured a 2-2 draw.

There is little to chose between the sides in the lead as both are level on points, with Brighton one place higher in the table.

Stam added: “Some of the players that weren’t involved against Barnsley are going to get their chance to play and show what they can do.

“It’s not easy for the substitutes, everyone who started against Barnsley did really well and then with 10 men it’s not easy making substitutions.

“Attacking-wise especially, because with 10 men it is not easy bringing on forwards because you need to defend.

“In the Brighton game the attacking players are going to get a chance to show themselves.

“The team did very well against Barnsley. They worked very hard and they did everything within their powers to win the game. We’ll be looking to carry that on at Brighton.”

Former Royals Steve Sidwell and Oliver Norwood are both expected to start for Chris Hughton's Seagulls.

Brighton have lost only once at home this season, a 2-0 league to Brentford.

The south coast club have scored eight goals in their two games of the competition so far, putting four past Colchester in the opening round, before repeating the feat against Oxford in a 4-2 win.

Reading reached the third round thanks to a 2-0 win against Plymouth and a narrow victory on penalties over MK Dons.