South East Wales

Sunderland are now assured of a play-off spot and a win over Swansea would guarantee them at least a fourth-placed finish

Swansea go into the game on the back of a three-match unbeaten run.

• After their 3-2 win in December, Sunderland are looking to record their first league double over Swansea City since 1963-64.

• Swansea have won each of their past three away league games at Sunderland, this after only winning two of their first 14 beforehand (D5 L7).

• Sunderland have earned 43 points in 20 Championship home games this season, their most from their opening 20 home matches of a season in one of England's top two tiers since 2004-05 (46).

• Swansea have only won one of their past nine away league outings (D2 L6), a 1-0 victory at Bristol City in February.

• Sunderland have kept a clean sheet in each of their past three league games, last keeping four in a row in the Championship in February 2007.

There have probably not been many bigger meetings between Cardiff City and Stoke City.

A victory for the Welsh side could condemn the Potters to a place in the relegation zone, but Stoke also have the chance to put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom three.

• Cardiff are unbeaten across their past nine league games against Stoke (W3 D6), winning this fixture 2-1 at home last season.

• Stoke have failed to win any of their past six away league games against Cardiff (D3 L3) since a 1-0 victory in August 2007.

• Each of Cardiff's past three league games have been draws (1-1 v Sheffield Wednesday, 0-0 v QPR, 2-2 v Preston); the Bluebirds last drew four successive league games in December 2022, a run which included a 2-2 draw with Stoke.

• Stoke have managed to win just one of their past 13 away league matches (D4 L8), a 2-1 victory at Hull in February.

• Stoke's Lewis Baker has scored seven goals in the Championship this season; only in 2021-22 has he netted more in a single league campaign (8). Baker has five goals in his past eight league appearances, as many as his previous 52 beforehand.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Cardiff City will have defender Perry Ng back for Saturday's crunch encounter with Championship relegation rivals Stoke City.

Right-back Ng, 28, has missed Cardiff's past two matches with injury, but has returned to training.

Midfielder-turned-defender Andy Rinomhota is a doubt, meanwhile, having hurt his back during Tuesday's 2-2 draw at Preston North End.

Winger Anwar El Ghazi remains out with a back injury, while goalkeeper Jak Alnwick and midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Joe Ralls have already been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Cardiff are 22nd in the Championship table with five games left this season, trailing Derby County in the final safety spot on goal difference, albeit a significant goal difference of 10.

Stoke are in 20th position, two points clear of the Bluebirds before Saturday's meeting at Cardiff City Stadium.

"Perry [Ng] will be back, he trained today [Thursday] a little bit," Cardiff manager Omer Riza said.

"Andy [Rinomhota] has hurt his back, so we will see how he is tomorrow. Ollie Tanner is still training towards getting fully fit.

"Ollie has been getting frustrated, he wants to play, but he gets disappointed with himself because he can't quite get himself back to the levels he's been at, which is normal with the injury he has had. Players are waiting to get their opportunity.

"Everyone has to be ready and the boys who came on [as substitutes at Preston] were very impactful. It shows that togetherness.

"We are going to have to put it all together to get those results we are looking for. Stoke is a very important game."