Reading Under-21s boss Noel Hunt is looking forward to going head-to-head with 'good friend' Graeme Murty in Monday's PL2 semi-final against Sunderland.

Legendary Royal Murty played more than 300 times for the club and was captain when Irishman Hunt arrived at the club in 2008.

Both Championship winners with the club in 2006 and 2012 respectively, supporters cannot wait to give Murty a heroes reception at the SCL Stadium when he brings his Sunderland side to Berkshire for the right to play Chelsea or Tottenham in the PL2 final.

However, Hunt insists as much as he'll relish catching up with a good friend, there is a game to be won.

"He’s a great guy and I love him to bits," Hunt said of Murty. "I’ll never forget how he welcomed me into the club for a couple of days of training when I was here, and he’s been a top guy ever since. He’s an unbelievably good coach and throughout the last 15 years, he’s been a really good friend to me so I’m looking forward to it.

"I’ve got to prepare my team as best I can with Scotty and the boys in there, he’ll prepare his boys as best he can with his staff, and we’ll let them go at it. I texted him straight after the result the other night against West Ham to say, ‘Well done.’ It’s an incredible achievement to do what we’ve done, in terms of getting so far. May the best team win on the night."

Entry is free and the club are hoping thousands come out to support the youngsters, who lifted the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup on Tuesday with victory over Marlow.