Leeds United could take a giant step towards promotion to the Premier League when the take on Swansea City on Sunday afternoon.
Marco Bielsa’s side, who are top of the Championship, are currently three points ahead of third-placed Brentford with a game in hand and the Bees having three games left to play.
Swansea themselves are battling for a play-off spot in the league, but Leeds will be confident of a positive result to leave them within touching distance of promotion.
Form
After losing to Luton Town at the end of June, the Swans have picked up seven points from their last three games to drag themselves back into contention for a play-off spot.
They were victorious in their last game away at Birmingham City, and will be hoping they can win their third game in a row back at home this weekend.
After losing their first game back after the break, Leeds have gone on to win three and draw one of their last four games.
The Whites dismantled Stoke City 5-0 in their last outing and will hope for more of the same on Sunday.
Team news
Jordan Garrick returns from suspension and he’ll provide a welcome boost for Sunday’s hosts.
Mike van der Hoorn could also return for Swansea after an injury layoff. Ben Wilmot and Joe Rodon, though, are both long-term injury absentees.
Leeds have no new injury concerns.
Previous clashes
It was Swansea who were victorious in the reverse fixture earlier this season, winning 1-0 at Elland Road in late August thanks to a 90th minute Wayne Routledge strike. The Swans have won three of the two’s last six meetings, too, compared to Leeds’ two.
In history, it is Leeds who lead the way with 20 wins to Swansea’s 12. There have also been seven draws between the teams.
Key players
Rhian Brewster is once again the Swansea man to keep an eye on. The Liverpool loanee has scored eight goals from 16 appearances in the Championship since arriving from Merseyside in January, and will want double figures before the season is out.
Leeds forward Patrick Bamford will pose a natural threat from up front, and will be hoping to add to his 16 Championship goals so far this season.
Former Swansea man Pablo Hernandez will also prove to be a threat, whilst Ben White and Kalvin Phillips will be looking to keep up their fine forms as they aim to further their careers in the game.
What the managers have said
Swansea manager Steve Cooper was looking forward to the challenge of facing top of the league when speaking to the club website in the week:
“They are top of the league, they have a clear way of playing and good players”, he said.
“But you have to look forward to this. In the end, if you want to achieve these are the games you have to be able to play well in and win.
“That’s how we view it, we are not looking at it negatively because we are playing top of the league.
“We are looking at it and thinking ‘what a challenge, what a great game to look forward to’. Let’s go for it.”
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa was taking nothing for granted when speaking via the Yorkshire Evening Post before the game:
“What happened in the previous game is not definitive for the next one”, he said.
"Safety and confidence are not linked 100 per cent with the previous result. You know that in the Championship every match is different - home, away, teams that are at the top of the table or teams that are at the bottom of the table.”