Schwarzer will start between the sticks but Federici is the man most likely to step up should anything happen to the Fulham man.

Reading's goalkeeping coach Sal Bibbo is confident that Federici would have no problems taking on the challenge.

Bibbo hailed Federici's passion for his country and said: "I know he would do extremely well for them given the opportunity.

"I fully expect him to do himself justice if called upon, he's worked very hard to get where he's at and continues to work hard every day in training."

Bibbo hailed Federici's professionalism and said the player was always the first to arrive for training and the last one to leave.

He also pointed to previous occasions as proof that Federici can handle the big occasions.

"He has showed before at this football club that he can step up in the big games'" ," Bibbo told Reading's official website.

"He showed that at Old Trafford in front of 75,000 where he excelled and was man of the match and he is not fazed by the spotlight.

"In fact I think he relishes it. He's a player that revels in the big game occasion."