Royle gambles on De Vos

De Vos set to play

Captain in the absence of Jim Magilton from the starting eleven, Jason De Vos will almost certainly start at Selhurst Park, it emerged today, despite seven stitiches still remaining after he injured his eye at Deepdale on Tuesday night.

The injury meant De Vos played on at Preston with the eye bandaged and then got eight stitiches put in after the game. He now has seven remaining but Royle said today that he will play in, a decision perhaps forced by the likely absence of Jason's central defensive partner, Richard Naylor.

At the clubs training ground today Royle said, speaking to the club site: "I'm sure he will start against Palace but the cut is just above the eye but it could open up again."

Andy Johson is the potent threat that Royle will have in mind when he names his centre halfs to take on Palace at the weekend. Johnson is looking to send out a late World Cup call to Sven and Naylor is likely to miss out pending an appeal to his red card at Deepdale.

McEveley and Casement are on standby but if De Vos makes it into the starting line-up Fabian Wilnis will move across to partner him, with Sito coming back into the starting eleven at full back.