Swansea City are expected to rest a number of first team choices for the gameat Hednesford Town on Tuesday ( 30th July : KO 7.45 pm ) New signings Jamie Wood and David Theobold are expected to start along side Michael Jackson who signed from Cheltenham Town in the close season. But they should be very aware of the Hednesford strike force which boasts Kevin Francis, the ex Stockport front man andex Birmingham City player Mark Gayle.Both players have spent their careers literally head and shoulders above their colleagues due to the aerial game both enjoy. And neither see their final season or two in football as a chance to put their feet up. Kevin Francis who has scored 8 career goals against The Swans will be relishing a challenge froma football league side. He has already scored four goals in two friendlies this season against Chase Town and Bilston Town. Free scoring ex football league player Graham Lancashire should also play. Up to the end of the 2000 season Lancashire scored an average of 15 goals a season throughout his career.

It may be that the likes of David Moss and Paul Reid will be called upon to add some grit to Swansea's midfield as the game goes on, and indeed David Smith who played magnificently in Holland could also get a shout. On the goal front it is looking like James Thomas and a totally changed John Williams could feature as the league season starts, but Swans fans will be keen to see Keavenny and Wood called upon too signal their personal challenges for first team places.

The ground is one of the better equipped sites for non league football with work being carried out at considerable cost to the board at Hednesford. New stands ( recent anyway ) most of the ground, and a car park right outside the main stand means supporters can park their cars closeby and walk straight in to the ground. There is also a welcome for Swans fans in the social club, and long time Swans fan and Bilston Town owner Roger Williams ( MAGS ) is the match sponsor.

In recent times Hednesford have enjoyed success in the FA Cup and were only recently relegated out of the Football Conference, they have a proud tradition at the club, and Swansea City regardless of the side they play will have to be at 100 % to come away from the game witha result.

It will be an excellent test for Cusack's fringe players, and one they will have to meet head on as a few calling cards will no doubt be left out their on the field of play. Especially with Gayle andFrancis around. Cusack is expected to play his first choice side against Steau Bucharest on Thursday night ( Aug 1st ) at The Vetch Field with the season now only a week or so away. But in the meantime games against Hednesford and Woking away ( Monday Aug 5th : KO 7.30 pm ) will provide as much a test as any friendly could do. And gives those fringe players a chance to stake a place in the squad for the opener against Rushden ( Saturday Aug 10th : KO 3 pm ) which will signal the new dawn for everyone at The Vetch Field.

Squad players v Swansea City AFC

Tuesday July 30th 2002

KO 7.45 pm

1. Chris Brindley

2. Damien Charle

3. Kevin Francis

4. Mark Gayle

5. Adam Jenkins

6. Stuart Lake

7. Graham Lancashire

8. Richard Lucas

9. Steven Pierce

10. Derek Rae

11. Stuart Ryder

12. Darren Simkin

13. Wayne Simpson

14. Ashley Williams