Palace travel to the Riverside looking to halt a run of two straight defeats that have seen the Eagles drop to the bottom of the table.
Iain Dowie’s selection problems remain largely the same as they were for Tuesday’s match with Chelsea.
Sandor Torghelle is believed to still be a little way from full fitness, although the Hungarian will have a late fitness test and may figure at some point.
Similarly, Michael Hughes is still not fully fit and will not play the whole 90 minutes. However, the midfielder should retain a place on the bench.
Danny Butterfield and Neil Shipperley remain long-term residents of the treatment room.
Middlesbrough will be without full-back Michael Reiziger, but George Boateng and Stewart Downing have both recovered from injury.
Probable Palace XI:
Speroni
Boyce Hudson Popovic Granville
Routledge Riihilahti Hall Kolkka
Johnson Kaviedes