The 24-year-old Australian stopper is hoping to be one of Mark Schwarzer's deputies in South Africa later this year and has been doing all the right things at Reading this season.

His performance against Palace on Wednesday night was excellent too, helping the Royals move out of the drop zone.

Federici pulled off a sharp fingertip save from Darren Ambrose's volley five minutes in, before fellow Aussie Nick Carle smashed a 25-yard dipping effort just over the bar for the Eagles.

The Australian goalkeeper was called into action again after Neil Danns turned in the box and tested Federici, but the stopper was up to it.

And Reading weathered the storm before Jobi McAnuff set up Simon Church for the opener on 23 minutes.

Into the second-half, Federici did brilliantly to prevent Ambrose's 25-yard stunner from finding the back of the net.

From the resulting corner, Reading broke away with the ball and Jimmy Kebe slotted his shot under Palace stopper Julian Speroni to double the Royals' lead.

On 55 minutes, the Eagles replied when Sean Scannell headed home from a corner with Federici appearing impeded.

Federici was forced into further saves from Ambrose and Shaun Derry, before Church sealed the points with a third from Matthew Mills' cross.

Carle's Palace drop down to 21st, just goal difference out of the bottom three, while Federici's Reading fly out of the drop zone and up to 18th.

Elsewhere overnight, Craig Moore played a full game as Kavala's dream season continued after reaching the semi-finals of the Greek Cup following a 2-1 extra-time triumph over Panionios.