Preston North End travel to the Liberty Stadium this weekend seeking to overturn a winless run of almost fifty years in south Wales and defeat the Play-Off chasing Swans.
PNE last won against Swansea City back in 1961 and the task will be a tough one, coming as it does against a team in the top six with one of the division's meanest defences.
However in spite of Tuesday's defeat to Barnsley North End are still within touching distance of the top six themselves and with three games within a week there is ample time to make up ground on those in the Play-Off zone.
Earlier this season North End defeated the Swans with a comfortable 2-0 victory secured by goals from Neil Mellor and Stephen Elliott.
Since then though Paulo Sousa's Swans have improved and the two teams have pretty much swapped the positions they had back on that sunny September day.
Both teams will have been delighted to have counted off the days of the transfer window without losing any of their star players and will certainly be looking to push on for a top six place.
Saturday's game kicks off at 1pm due to the international rugby taking place later in the day so North End will be aiming to catch their hosts unaware and repeat the three points they secured at London Road last week.
Swansea City versus Preston North End
Coca-Cola Championship
Saturday 6th February 2010
Kick-off 1pm
Gaffer's Team News
"Callum is fit. We need characters there's no doubt about that, he gives us a bit of balance with that, Eddie's done well so I've got a decision to make there but it's always a bonus when you're club captain comes back.
"Youl had been out for a long time and generally what happens when people have been out for a while is that it's not the first or second game they feel it but the third or fourth and Youl was a prime example against Ipswich, he was very leggy and that was the reason why Neill was back in. He's had a bit of rest so he'll come back into contention for Saturday."
Darren Ferguson gives PNE Player an update on North End's injury list
The Opposition
Early summer was not a happy time to be a Swansea City fan, first their manager left for Wigan Athletic, then it was the backroom staff, then it was last season's top scorer and finally the man who supplied many of those goals was signed in at the JJB Stadium.
After the exits of Roberto Martinez and his management team, Jason Scotland and the non-renewal of Jordi Gomez's loan deal the last thing on many Swans' fan's minds would have been a push for the Play-Offs but in came Paolo Sousa and they haven't looked back since.
The former QPR manager brought in Craig Beattie, Cedric Van Der Grun and Lee Trundle, to add to the trio who joined on the 1st July (Stephen Dobbie, Jordi Lopez and Nathan Dyer). Martinez's Swansea were renowned for their passing football and Sousa has continued to lead a Swans teams who adhere to the same philosophy.
He has also instilled a defensive solidity which has served the backbone throughout the season with the Liberty Stadium recording 15 clean sheets so far - one behind league leaders Newcastle United.
The more recent additions of David Cotterill and Shefki Kuqi have leant more strength to their forward line but the best news for Swansea was the repelling of other clubs during the transfer window for Leon Britton, Angel Rangel and Darren Pratley.
All three were in the Martinez team that defeated North End 4-1 in the corresponding fixture at the Liberty Stadium last season, so PNE will be well aware of their skills and ability to hurt defences.
The Opposition Manager
"It wasn't a good game but they closed all the spaces and it caused us problems. A lot of teams come here to defend and I could see that we need to react more quickly. Not every team will defend as well as they did but we made some bad decisions and we must keep possession better."
Paolo Sousa tells BBC Wales that his team have to be ready for sides turning up and defending at the Liberty Stadium
The Opposition Player
"It's a major boost, they're three of our key players, no doubt about it, and it's fantastic news for the squad and the club that they are still here. It was very nice to come in to training and still see them here and it's only going to help us as we push on towards the end of the season.
They're fantastic players, I've been blessed to have trained and played with them which has helped me so much in my development. I really enjoy playing with them; they have fantastic ability and could definitely play at the highest level."
Joe Allen expresses his delight at the news that Swansea managed to keep Messrs Britton, Pratley and Rangel to www.swanseacity.net.
Last Meeting
PNE 2 Swansea City 0
Mellor 29, Elliott 88
Saturday 12th September 2009, 3pm
Coca-Cola Championship
Deepdale
Head-to-head
PNE's all-time record against Swansea City W19 D16 L21
PNE's league record against Swansea City W18 D16 L19
PNEBetting.com
Swansea City 5/6 Draw 12/5 PNE 7/2
PNEBetting.com's Selected Bet
Danny Welbeck to score first and PNE to win 2-1 - 85/1
PNE Player
Live coverage of the game will kick-off on PNE Player from midday on Saturday on 106.5fm Central Radio in the PR postcode area and online and around the world on PNE Player - head to www.pne.com/player to subscribe now.
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Fans travelling south for the game should be aware of specific instructions regarding parking and travel - click here to read those instructions.
