Julio Arca and Gary O'Neil are both absent after going down with the same illness that kept Stephen McManus out of Saturday's draw with Reading.
To make matters worse, striker Scott McDonald is also unavailable after suffering a hamstring injury in training.
Lee Miller partners Chris Killen in attack, with Rhys Williams returning to central midfield after a one-match ban and Joe Bennett expected to line up in an unorthodox left-midfield role.
McManus is fit enough to take his place at centre-half, and the Scot will partner David Wheater in the back four.
Preston centre-half Sean St Ledger makes his first return to the Riverside after an unsuccessful loan spell on Teesside earlier in the season.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Jones; Hoyte, McManus, Wheater, Pogatetz; Franks, R Williams, Robson, Bennett; Miller, Killen.
Subs: Coyne (gk), Taylor, Riggott, Lita, Grounds, Naughton, Park.
PRESTON (4-4-2): Lonergan; Hart, St Ledger, Chilvers, Davidson; James, Chaplow, Carter, Wallace; Brown, Mellor.
Subs: Henderson, Sedgwick, Jones, Ward, Parkin, Barton, Proctor.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo