Planet Swans takes a look at tomorrows friendly against Kilmarnock at the Liberty Stadium.
Spanish La Liga outfit UD Almeria were due to pay visit to the Liberty Stadium as part of their pre season preparations, however concerns over the increase of swine flu cases in the UK were raised by the Mediterraneo Stadium outfit, who subsequently withdrew from the friendly. Quickly stepping up Scottish SPL side Kilmarnock were pencilled into play Swansea.
With places in the squad to face Leicester firmly up for grabs, Paulo Sousa is expected to rotate the squad against Killie tomorrow afternoon and at Port Talbot on Sunday evening, as he finalizes his plans for next season. However he does expect every player to fight for his place as he outlined on the official site, he said, "I don't have one team, I have a squad and each and every single player will be fighting for a place in the team."
He added, "When you have the possibility to train and play in these games you have the possibility to prove yourself. My ideas of what side I pick for Leicester are clearer following the time I have spent with the players, but I won't be making any final decisions on a team until next week.”
So far this pre-season the Liberty Stadium outfit have beaten Dutch champions league qualifiers FC Twente 3-1, comprehensively overcome league of Wales side Neath 6-1 and have had mixed results against Spanish opposition in the clubs tour of Spain.
It is the visit of Kilmarnock which will provide a different test, an examination more closer to the style that the Swans will face in the championship next season according to Sousa, "It's closer to the style of game we will face in the championship. It will be completely different to the teams we have already played this pre-season and it will be a good exercise for us."
Defenders Angel Rangel and Marcos Painter are all due to play some part in the game as is Swansea new boy Jordi Lopez.
Looking ahead to the game against Swansea tomorrow , Killie boss Jim Jefferies is eagerly anticipating the challenges that the South Wales side will provide, as he outlined to the SWEP, he said “I'm looking forward to it. We've got a couple of injuries so we'll have to play a few of the younger lads, but we'll be as strong as we can,"
"Swansea will provide us with a good test. We know they had a really good season last year, but we'll give it our best shot.''
Killie's preparations for the game have hardly been ideal, with a 3-2 loss to Partick Thistle on Wednesday evening. Whilst there have been rumours that some of the clubs players had threatened to go on strike following the overturning of Gary Locke coaching position at Rugby Park.
Flatly rejecting such suggestions Jefferies has called the reports ridiculous as he told BBC Scotland, he said, “Making out the players are taking strike action is absolutely ridiculous."
New signing Mark Burchill could feature following his loan move from Rotherham but striker Kevin Kyle is out of the game through injury as is fellow forward Allan Russell.
Planet Swans Prediction: Swansea City 2-1 Kilmarnock