The route that Reading will need to take in order to win PL2 has been mapped out as Middlesbrough visit the SCL Stadium on Saturday in the first knockout stage.

Noel Hunt's Under-21s made a very successful start to life back in Category One and the PL2, finishing fifth in a 26-team league table.

Already qualifying for the Premier League International Cup by finishing in the top 12, European giants from Spain, Italy and France could be visiting Berkshire next season.

The top 16 qualify for the play-off stage, with the Teessider's up first for the Royals, with free entry to all supporters for this weekend's 12pm kick-off.

Should Reading progress, one of Fulham or Nottingham Forest will make the trip to Berkshire in the quarter-final.

Sunderland, Wolves, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United are in the final section of the draw, meaning one of them will stand in the semi-final.

Should Reading be successful and win PL2, teams such as Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal wait in the final as any of the top half of the draw come into play.

The whole tournament ends this month.

Manchester City, who won the previous three league titles before the format was changed, were knocked out in the group phase.

Marlow await Reading Under-21s in the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup final which is also taking place in May.