Swansea City will host Luton Town on Saturday knowing a win could see them move into the Championship play-off places.

The Swans currently sit on 56 points, one point away from current sixth-placed side Preston North End.

Luton, meanwhile, have a battle of their own to worry about. They are bottom of the table with 36 points, five points adrift of Middlesbrough, who occupy the final survival spot.

Form

Swansea will be high on confidence going into Saturday’s game after a 3-0 victory at Middlesbrough last weekend – a win that cost Boro manager Jonathan Woodgate his job.

The Welsh outfit have lost just one of their last seven Championship games, recording four draws and three wins. They have also lost just one of their last nine home league games – a 3-2 defeat to Derby County back in February. They are three places and one point away from the play-off spots in the Championship.

Luton will take the positives from their 1-1 draw with promotion-chasing Preston last weekend, however they are three places and five points adrift of the final safety spot in the league. Town defeated Brentford before drawing their last three games, but have taken just four points from their last 14 away fixtures in the Championship.

Team News

Swans manager Steve Cooper will be without central defender Mike van der Hoorn on Saturday, but otherwise has a fully fit squad to choose from. Kyle Naughton is fit after an ankle injury kept him out of the starting lineup against Middlesbrough, whilst Joe Rodon is also back in full training. Changes are, however, expected to be limited.

Luton boss Nathan Jones has options for the game, but will be without Kazenga Lualua, Eunan O’Kane and Brenadan Galloway, who are all injured.

Callum McManaman could be pushing for a start after netting a late leveller against North End last time out, whilst James Bree, who assisted McManaman’s goal off the bench, could also feature from the off.

Hatters midfielder Glen Rea will rack up his 150th appearance for the club if he features.

Previous clashes

Swansea have a good record against Luton of late, winning the last three meetings between the two without conceding a goal. Luton have won just once in their last 13 league visits to Swansea, although the last of those games was back in 2008.

Swansea won the reverse fixture 1-0 back in December thanks to a late Jordan Ayew strike, and have won 19 of the previous 51 clashes between the two teams. Luton have won 21, whilst there have also been 11 draws.

Key men

On-loan Liverpool forward Rhian Brewster is expected to once again lead the line for Swansea after netting a brace at Middlesbrough. The 20-year-old has scored six times since joining the club in January, and is key to the Swans’ play-off push.

Luton are also likely to rely on their strike force for the goals – James Collins and Harry Cornick have netted 19 times between them this campaign, whilst Isaiah Brown has provided six assists. He is expected to support the front line.

What the managers said

Swansea boss Cooper spoke to the club’s website ahead of the game, he said:

“We are massively excited. We cannot wait for the games to come.

“I think the picture will change, just like last weekend. You can easily look at what else is going on, but you have got to look after yourselves.

"We are excited to be part of it – we are right in the mix and we always feel we have been. The games cannot come quick enough.

The Luton boss felt like the draw last weekend will have given his side a boost ahead of this clash. Speaking to the club’s website, he said:

“It [the squad] is in good shape. They all came through the game last week and the week’s training, so we are in good shape.

“We are still building momentum, sharpness, and getting up to speed, but last week would’ve done them a world of good. We are in a better shape physically than we were a week ago.

“They are a real tight group, a real close group. It is a headache, what to choose, but they’re all pushing because they’re all training at a good level."

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