Swans boss Paulo Sousa wants derby double over Cardiff
Coca Cola Championship - Cardiff City v Swansea City Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Saturday, 3 April Starts: 1720 BST Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra & online, live text commentary online and score updates BBC Radio 5 Live and Final Score. Highlights on The Football League Show, Live on Sky Sports 1
Sousa predicts bright end to season
Swansea City boss Paulo Sousa is aiming to make history on Saturday by completing a league double over Cardiff City in the south Wales derby.
Neither side has managed the feat since first meeting in 1929, but Swansea have the chance after November's 3-2 win.
"We have a big chance to win, to [make] history for the club once more, because we... write already some new pages in the history of Swansea," Sousa said.
"And we can make one more on Saturday, winning twice the derby this season."
Two goals from midfielder Darren Pratley and an opening header by Nathan Dyer saw Swansea win this season's first Welsh encounter at the Liberty Stadium, Jay Bothroyd and Mark Hudson replying for Cardiff.
But Sousa realises the task will be much tougher at the Cardiff City Stadium against an opponent, Bluebirds manager Dave Jones, he has the fullest respect for.
The Portuguese also says he has concerns over the state of Cardiff's pitch and Sousa may spring a surprise in his team selection for Saturday.
"With all the respect I have for my opponents - and especially with David [Jones] - I'm looking always for my players... our quality and our game on the pitch," Sousa added.
"It's a poor pitch, not so good... to make the best strategy we're looking at that and after we'll see if we make some surprise Saturday.
"Our success has been built on possession, not in defending, because normally our team we have much more possession than our opponents.
"Normally we have more opportunities than our opponents and if you see the stats it's like that.
"Of course we score less than the others, we concede less than the others it's true, but we concede less because we don't give them so many opportunities to score.
"Why? Because we have most of the time the ball with us."
Both teams are still firmly in the play-offs and even defeat for one side in the derby is unlikely to prove terminal to their promotion hopes.
But with just six games to go until the end of the regular season, victory will keep the momentum firmly with Sousa and his players for the run-in.
"Victories they give us - and reinforce all the time - confidence and happiness," Sousa said.
"It's something every team and every player is looking for, and every manager.
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