Reading are strong favourites with the bookmakers despite cup specialists Bradford beating Millwall, Chelsea and Sunderland so far in this season's competition.

A battling Royals performance ensured a replay at the Madejski Stadium but Clarke refused suggestions that there is now extra pressure on Reading to get the job done.

“If the bookmakers say we’re favourites then we’re probably favourites,” said the Reading boss. “The players aren’t bothered if they’re favourites or not.

“It’s a cup game and anything can happen. One great goal, one bad mistake or a referees decision can decide a cup tie. It’s small margins so the players aren’t bothered by being favourites or underdogs.

“This is a club that have reached the quarter-final three times in the past five years so we’re familiar with this stage of the competition.

“The objective against Bradford is to go one step further. If we win then we’ll be in the semi-final which would be good for the club.”

The Reading boss made nine changes to his side for the trip to Watford, with virtually every player that played at Valley Parade left out of the squad.

Clarke insisted that some of those changes were forced due to a few knocks picked up by his players - but he remained tight-lipped when asked who.

“We’ve got one or two doubts,” he explained. “I’m not going to tell you who they are. There were one or two knocks picked up at Watford as well which will affect the shape of the squad, it’s a busy time.”

Nathaniel Chalobah is one of the players Clarke is sweating on, with the Chelsea loanee returning to his parent club on Friday for treatment on a knock.