Goalkeeper Steele has been sidelined since sustaining a muscular injury at the start of March and has missed Boro's last ten games.
In total, Tony Mowbray has made three changes to the side that beat Coventry City.
Stephen McManus replaces Andrew Davies at centre-half, while Tony McMahon comes in for the injured Julio Arca.
That could mean Justin Hoyte pushing into right midfield, or it could see Boro starting with a five-man defence.
CARDIFF (4-4-2): Heaton; McNaughton, Keinan, Quinn, Samuel; Whittingham, McPhail, Olofinjana, Burke; Bothroyd, Bellamy.
Subs: Bywater (gk), Rae, Hudson, Koumas, Blake, Chopra, Parkin.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Steele; McMahon, McManus, R Williams, Taylor; Hoyte, Smallwood, Thomson, Robson; Lita, Emnes.
Subs: Smith (gk), Haas, Grounds, Kink, Flood, Halliday, Franks.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo