Preview: Swansea v Owls

Wednesday make their first ever trip to the Liberty Stadium this weekend and face a tough task against a Swansea side that have taken to the Championship like a duck to water.

The Welsh side have made an impressive start to the campaign following promotion from League One, with their latest scalp a success at Plymouth Argyle last weekend.

But Wednesday boss Brian Laws will be able to take plenty of positives from last week's 1-1 draw at home to Preston and will be looking for an improved performance to the last one on the road which saw the Owls fall 4-1 at Wolves.

Roberto Martinez told Wales Online:

'The level of performance has been pleasing, but it is very, very early and there are certainly areas where we need to get better. There is still a lot of work to be done.

'Sheffield Wednesday is a different test for us. I think with Nottingham Forest it was a team we had played twice last season and in the players` eyes was easy. Wednesday will be different. We need to be ourselves. We have shown we can do that and have to do it again.'

Swansea will come in to the game on the back of a superb four match winning streak which saw them progress to the Third Round of the Carling Cup in mid-week with victory over Premier League side Hull City.

Defeat at Charlton Athletic aside, the Swans have brought their superb form from last season through to the Championship and are already flying high so early in the season.

And boss Martinez will have no fresh injury worries going in to the clash, where he hopes to make the Liberty Stadium a fortress for teams to travel to this season.

The striker swept League One clubs aside last season and Swansea fans will be hoping the strong marksman will be able to do the same this season - and he has already shown he can, with the winning goal at Plymouth last week. Will no doubt be a handful for the Owls defence.

Owls boss Brian Laws will have no fresh injury concerns going in to the game at the Liberty Stadium, and is likely to stick with the eleven that drew with Preston last weekend.

Marcus Tudgay came through that clash unscathed after returning from injury and will be hoping his strike partnership with Deon Burton will become fruitful with Akpo Sodje and Francis Jeffers still sidelined through injury.

Tony McMahon will also continue at right-back after impressing in his debut for the Owls last weekend following his one-month loan deal move from Middlesbrough.

The Owls' wing duo of Esajas and Jermaine Johnson have proved a delight to watch going forward so far this season, and they'll need to be on the top of their game to cause the Swansea defence problems on their home patch this weekend.

Head-To-Head:

Swansea wins: 4
Wednesday wins: 12
Draws: 7

Last Time Out:

Wednesday 6-1 Swansea

Hillsborough, Sheffield - 14/01/84

Wednesday ran out whopping 6-1 winners the last time the two teams met - 24 years ago - with goals from Lyons, Pearson, a Toshack own goal, Megson, Heard and Varadi.

Previous Line-Ups:

Swansea: De Vries, Painter, Monk, Collins (Rangel 55), Serran, Orlandi, Gomez, Tudur-Jones, MacDonald, Allen (Pintado 54), Bauza (Brandy 81). Subs Not Used: O'Leary, Tate, Gower, Lawrence.

Wednesday: Grant, Spurr, McMahon, Beevers, Wood, McAllister, Esajas, O'Connor, Johnson (Smith 71), Tudgay, Burton (Clarke 87).
Subs Not Used: O'Donnell, Gilbert, Watson.

v Watford (H) - 13/09/08

v Reading (A) - 16/09/08

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