Swansea City continue their pre-season schedule when they welcome Danish outfit Brondby to their Fairwood training ground on Tuesday in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
The Swans kicked off their preparations for the new Championship term with a clash against non-league opposition on Friday, while Brondby are in England to get ready for their domestic campaign.
Match preview
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Swansea head into a fresh Championship season under the stewardship of Michael Duff, with the 45-year-old replacing Russell Martin who departed to recently-relegated Southampton following the conclusion of the 2022-23 term.
The ex-Barnsley walks into a dressing room full of talented players in South Wales, and the assignment will be to translate the Swans' attractive style of play into enough points to reach the top six.
Having gone nine games unbeaten at the end of last season, Swansea should take plenty of confidence into their pre-season preparations despite losing Martin to their second-tier counterparts.
Fans of the Swans will be praying that Joel Piroe remains put this summer, with the 23-year-old attracting interest from the Premier League after scoring 41 Championship goals over the past two campaigns.
A 2-0 victory against non-league Haverfordwest County on Friday kicked off Swansea's rehearsals ahead of their season opener against Birmingham City on August 5 - the aforementioned Piroe and youngster Joe Thomas made the net ripple at Fairwood.
Brondby commenced their schedule of fixtures this summer with a 2-1 victory over Danish second-tier side Hillerod on Thursday, with second-half strikes from Rasmus Wikstrom and Mathias Kvistgaarden completing a comeback for the hosts.
Jesper Sorensen's men now travel to England where they will pit their wits against Swansea and Premier League outfit Crystal Palace within the next week - matches which are certain to test the Boys from Vestegnen to their limits.
Having missed out on qualification for European football this term after a fifth-placed finish in the Danish Superligaen during 2022-23, Sorensen will be tasked with guiding his charges back on to the continental stage, and perhaps to challenge Copenhagen for the domestic crown.
Brondby begin their league campaign at JYSK Park against Silkeborg on July 23, and the visitors will be hoping to avoid three-straight defeats at the home of SIF.
A standout performer for the Danes last season was Ohi Omoijuanfo, as the Norwegian settled quickly following a summer move from Red Star Belgrade, netting 13 Superligaen goals, five more than any of his teammates.
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Team News
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Swansea have been dealt an injury blow early in their pre-season campaign, with new signing Josh Ginnelly suffering a calf injury which has thrown his availability for the start of the season into doubt.
Right-back Josh Key - recently arrived from Exeter City - is ready to make his debut for the Swans after sitting out of his side's win over non-league opposition on Friday.
Duff has confirmed that he will field two separate XIs for each half at Fairwood on Tuesday night, with a first-team side expected to begin the match, including the likes of Joe Allen and Matt Grimes.
Brondby named an experienced side for their victory over Hillerod last time out, and head coach Sorensen should employ similar tactics in South Wales, with Daniel Wass and Mathias Greve set to start.
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Fisher; Thomas, B Cooper, Naughton, Wood; Lloyd, Allen, Grimes; O Cooper, Piroe, Cullen
Brondby possible starting lineup:
Mikkelsen; Wikstrom, Alves, Wass, Larsen; Divkovic, Greve, Radosevic, Schwartau; Hedlund, Omoijuanfo
We say: Swansea City 2-1 Brondby
The often slower nature of friendly matches will favour Swansea's possession-based style, however the visit of Brondby will be a step up from the challenge of Haverfordwest County a few days ago.
The Boys from Vestegnen have a tough week in England ahead of them, and we envisage the Danes falling short at Fairwood - at least in terms of the result - on Tuesday.
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Carter White
