After a dream start to this season's League One campaign, Swansea find themselves sat cherishing their 100% record near the top of the table. However, after avoiding two potential banana skins in Tranmere and Colchester, Kenny Jackett's newly-promoted side will now face a real test as they attempt to snatch some points from Peter Jackson's Huddersfield side. Saturday's fixture will surely give Swansea supporters a much better idea of how they are realistically set to fare in the new surroundings of higher division football, with their opponents fancied by many as dark horses for the League One title.
So far, the Swans have overcome their opening two obstacles without too many problems, with the exception of course of the loss of the influential Garry Monk through injury. The fixture list favoured the Swans in that it threw up one of this season's favourites in their opening stadium fixture - a game that they would have been fired up to win for a whole host of reasons. Tranmere will no doubt be in the promotion shake-up come May but in front of a crowd of over 16,000, Brian Little's men crumbled and if the same atmosphere can be created for the remaining 22 home games...then many other sides will do the same.
Taking three points against such a fancied side can only have stirred up the squad's confidence, as did three points at Colchester United on Tuesday. With the greatest respect for Colchester, this result was particularly important for Kenny's men. If Swansea want to establish themselves in League One, they will have to achieve occasional victories at the likes of Layer Road, baring in mind that their opponents are one of the smaller teams in the division and survival is usually the name of the game each season.
However, Saturday becomes a different issue. Huddersfield, unbeaten at home in 2005, will be a force in League One this season. Despite being narrowly beaten by a last minute goal at Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the season, the terriers dispatched fellow favourites Bristol City 1-0 on Tuesday night and will be extremely confident of taking maximum points from the Swans. The fact that there was no love lost when these sides last met in the 03/04 season, where Trundle performed his famous "neck-roll", will only add spice to the battle.
This really is a massive test for the Swans and a definite sign of what to expect over the next 9 months. Swansea's last visit to Huddersfield ended in a 3-0 defeat but in all fairness, the scoreline probably flattered the Swans as they were completely outplayed and outclassed for 90 minutes. Now under a new manager, with a new squad of players and in a new division, Swansea will be desperately hoping to bring back at least one point to South Wales on Saturday night and continue their fantastic start to the season.
So far, the Swans have overcome their opening two obstacles without too many problems, with the exception of course of the loss of the influential Garry Monk through injury. The fixture list favoured the Swans in that it threw up one of this season's favourites in their opening stadium fixture - a game that they would have been fired up to win for a whole host of reasons. Tranmere will no doubt be in the promotion shake-up come May but in front of a crowd of over 16,000, Brian Little's men crumbled and if the same atmosphere can be created for the remaining 22 home games...then many other sides will do the same.
Taking three points against such a fancied side can only have stirred up the squad's confidence, as did three points at Colchester United on Tuesday. With the greatest respect for Colchester, this result was particularly important for Kenny's men. If Swansea want to establish themselves in League One, they will have to achieve occasional victories at the likes of Layer Road, baring in mind that their opponents are one of the smaller teams in the division and survival is usually the name of the game each season.
However, Saturday becomes a different issue. Huddersfield, unbeaten at home in 2005, will be a force in League One this season. Despite being narrowly beaten by a last minute goal at Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the season, the terriers dispatched fellow favourites Bristol City 1-0 on Tuesday night and will be extremely confident of taking maximum points from the Swans. The fact that there was no love lost when these sides last met in the 03/04 season, where Trundle performed his famous "neck-roll", will only add spice to the battle.
This really is a massive test for the Swans and a definite sign of what to expect over the next 9 months. Swansea's last visit to Huddersfield ended in a 3-0 defeat but in all fairness, the scoreline probably flattered the Swans as they were completely outplayed and outclassed for 90 minutes. Now under a new manager, with a new squad of players and in a new division, Swansea will be desperately hoping to bring back at least one point to South Wales on Saturday night and continue their fantastic start to the season.