Coca Cola Championship Venue: Bramall Lane Date: Saturday, 25 October 2009 Kick-off: 1500 BST Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Wales (SE FM only), live text commentary online, score updates on BBC Radio 5 live, Final Score & highlights on The Football League Show
Dorus de Vries played in a face mask last season after a horrific injury
Keeper Dorus de Vries sees Swansea's upward progress continuing as he prepares to play his 100th game for the club when they host Blackpool Saturday.
"The time has flown," he told BBC Sport Wales. "There've been some great times, we're still progressing a lot - I hope I have many years and games to come."
The Dutchman, 28, is on target to break Roger Freestone's club record of 22 clean sheets in a season.
"It'd be nice to get in the record book but it's about all the team," he said.
De Vries presently has seven clean sheets from 13 games, Freestone having had five at the equivalent time in his record-breaking season.
Sousa ready for surprise-side Blackpool
Speaking in a special feature for BBC Radio Wales Sport's Saturday programme, the keeper was surprised to be reminded that it was a year since he suffered a hairline jaw and depressed cheekbone fracture in a game with QPR.
De Vries, who received an apology from QPR captain Martin Rowlands after the challenge that caused the injury, missed just six matches before returning to play in a protective face mask.
"The [Swansea] players started calling me Halloween and Phantom of the Opera," said the stopper. "The banter helped me through.
"It was a terrible injury but it made me stronger in the end.
"It could have been much, much worse... I've never feared going into challenges since the injury."
The injury coincided with talks over a new contract for de Vries, who has been with the Welsh club since 2007.
"Talks went on for a long, long time and other clubs became interested, including teams from abroad," said the Dutchman.
We can still make a lot of progress, we're doing it bit by bit... The future's bright at Swansea City
Dorus de Vries
"I wanted to see what would happen with all the changes going on at Swansea [manager Roberto Martinez left in the summer], to make sure that I was making the right choice.
"But I feel so welcome at the club, I have a great connection with the fans and we play football the right way.
"I made the right choice to sign up for another two years."
De Vries is confident that his Liberty Stadium side can continue their climb up the Championship with success against high-flying Blackpool.
"The play-offs have always been a target," he said. "I'm really confident of another clean sheet [against Blackpool] and of keeping our run going.
"We're working so hard in training and it's showing on the pitch.
"We can still make a lot of progress, we're doing it bit by bit.
"There's great potential in this team and the future's bright at Swansea City."
*Hear the full Dorus de Vries feature and live coverage of Swansea v Blackpool on Radio Wales Sport, Saturday, 24 October, 1330-1830 BST
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