Swansea City and Bristol Rovers continue their preparations for the upcoming 2022-23 campaign with a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts are looking to complete a positive summer ahead of an improved Championship season, whilst the visitors are enduring a tough pre-season to set them up for a return to League One.
Match preview
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Swansea played the second of their two summer warm-up matches so far at League One outfit Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday evening.
Joel Piroe continued his fine form from last season to net the opening goal of the game inside seven minutes at Home Park, but the Welsh outfit were pegged back just two minutes from time when Ryan Hardie equalised for their hosts.
That draw followed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Forest Green Rovers in their opening friendly back on July 9, meaning Russell Martin's side head into Saturday's clash unbeaten in pre-season so far.
The loss of central midfielder Flynn Downes to West Ham United during the transfer window is certainly a huge setback, but the re-signing of Joe Allen on a free transfer a decade after he left for Liverpool has kept hopes alive of a much-improved 2022-23 campaign.
Swansea open their Championship season with an away game at newly-promoted Rotherham United on July 30, with Saturday's hosting of Bristol Rovers and the visit to Charlton Athletic a week later the only two tests left for Martin to put his side through their paces before they get down to business competitively.
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Meanwhile, after securing a dramatic return to League One on the final day of the 2021-22 League Two campaign last season, Bristol Rovers have arranged some almighty tests for themselves this summer.
Amateur side Melksham Town were brushed aside by a 6-1 scoreline in their opening friendly of the summer on July 1, before Joey Barton's side were downed 3-0 by Primeira Liga champions Porto in their second runout of pre-season.
Two different Rovers 11s were put out in matches at Bath City and Chippenham Town on Tuesday, to which they lost the former and won the latter against non-league opponents.
However, the Pirates now face another step up in quality in the former of Championship outfit Swansea on Saturday, before hosting another second-tier outfit in the form of Stoke City next week.
Barton is keen to see plenty of quality on display from his players in these gruelling fixtures, but the boss is hopeful that they will prepare them effectively for a tough return to the third tier this season, which they will begin with the hosting of fellow newly-promoted outfit Forest Green Rovers on July 30.
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Team News
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Ben Cabango is returning to first-team training for Swansea at the end of this week for the first time since being forced off injured against Bournemouth back in May.
The Wales international will not play a part on Saturday but it is hoped that he can feature at Charlton a week later, whilst Allen continues to wait for his second debut for the club after being left out in midweek as a precaution following the hamstring injury he suffered on international duty with Wales earlier this summer.
Steven Benda, Ryan Bennett and Morgan Whittaker are amongst those being kept out out of first-team activity whilst transfers and loan deals away are being discussed, whilst Liam Walsh continues his recovery from a ruptured achilles.
As for the visitors, Barton is hopeful that summer-recruit Jordan Rossiter can make his debut for the club in the trip to Swansea on Saturday.
The central midfielder has seen his summer preparations disrupted by a calf injury, but whilst he should feature in some part in South Wales, he is unlikely to start.
Alfie Kilgour and Sam Finley continued their comebacks from long-term injury and illness respectively in midweek, and the duo should feature again alongside summer arrivals James Connolly, James Gibbons and John Marquis.
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Fisher; Wood, Naughton, Manning; Latibeaudiere, Fulton, Grimes, Ogbeta; Piroe, Paterson; Obafemi
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Gibbons, Kilgour, Connolly, Clarke; Finley, Grant; Anderson, Evans, Saunders; Marquis
We say: Swansea City 2-1 Bristol Rovers
Swansea look set to have a strong season in the upcoming Championship campaign, and with very few injuries to first-team players as things stand, there should be plenty of minutes for key players against Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
The visitors are a decent side themselves and could prove a tough opponent on their day, but the Swans should come out victorious to continue their positive summer preparations here.
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