Image source, .

This game is not prepared to let up for a second. Andre Ayew fires over as he bursts through the Sunderland defence - a good chance.

Adam Johnson at the other end - a GREAT CHANCE - turned wide. The ball was cut back to him and from 10 yards he executes a mishit of some magnitude (pictured above).

Jermain Defoe wandering around between Swansea bodies is perhaps the exact opposite to the fashionable high press we see some teams adopt thesedays.

The result is some early ball for Ki in the Swansea midfield and his has a ping from range which gets blocked.

Early on, there seems a little space in the middle of the park. Big Sam will want that closed up sharpish.

And as a rendition of 'Hymns and Arias' rings around the Liberty, the ball is rolling and we are underway. 

Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator at the Stadium of Light

"In my opinion, both managers can be excused forhaving their eyes on this fixture ahead of last weekend's FA Cup ties. This is a cup final. And it's the first of several these clubs will face between now and May.

"Losing to League Two Oxford was embarrassing for Swansea but will be quickly forgotten if they can win against Sunderland. A lack of goals has been a major problem, but just one might be enough this time.

"The same can be said of Sunderland - a repeat of Jermain Defoe's late winner at Palace would do nicely.

"They trail the Swans at the moment but Big Sam's presence, coupled with their near annual experience of relegation scraps, convinces me they have the better chance of survival."

Match of the Day is on BBC one at 22:45 GMT (regional variations may apply)

Here come the players. Sunderland all in green, it's not quite camouflage but not far off. They may need to hide in the north east if form doesn't pick up.

Some high-fives among Swansea's players as some dance music blares over the PA system.

Swansea captain Ashley Williams adorns the cover of tonight's match programme.

Image source, Swansea

What will be going through the heads of the 11 men brought into the Swans' side tonight. Remember Swansea suffered the embarrassment of an FA Cup giant killing on Sunday - never easy to swallow.

Defeat here would see some knives sharpened. 

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland defender Billy Jones: "When we are playing against teams who are in and around us they are going to be huge, huge games and we will take massive confidence if we can go to Swansea and take points off them.” 

So who are you backing? There are a few nerve-filled faces at the Liberty already (and a lot of woolly hats).

Please tweet me on #bbcfootball all night long with your views and predictions.

Off the players trot, time for those final words of wisdom from Big Sam and 'Curt' as he's known.

Swansea have a fantastic record against the Black Cats. More on that next but this is the current state of affairs at the bottom. As you can see, this is a game of some significance.

Image source, .

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Liberty Stadium

Image source, .

As well as its significance in the battle to avoid relegation, tonight’s match between Swansea and Sunderland will also feature a personal landmark.

The Swans’ midfielder Leon Britton will make his 500th appearance for the club - emulating the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes in passing that milestone for one team.

Britton, 33, made his Swansea debut in 2002 and played in the 4-2 win over Hull City which saved them from relegation out of the Football League in 2003.

Image source, .

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce makes seven changes to the side beaten at Arsenal in the FA Cup.

Fabio Borini comes in to face his old side, Adam Johnson is recalled, as is Jermain Defoe to lead the line.

Swansea City interim manager Alan Curtis is a proper football man. So much so he's laying the ball off for his players to take shots as we speak.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Liberty Stadium

Image source, .

Swansea interim manager Alan Curtis makes 11 changes after the Swans’ second string were knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two side Oxford United on Sunday.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce makes seven changes from the 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Arsenal. The only players to retain their places are John O’Shea, Patrick van Aanholt, Lee Cattermole and Jeremain Lens.

Swansea XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Britton, Ki; Routledge, Sigurdsson, Barrow; Ayew.

Sunderland XI: Mannone; Jones, Brown, O'Shea, van Aanholt; Cattermole, M'Vila; Borini, Lens, Johnson; Defoe.

There's some decent team news on the way next. 

For now though I can tell you the rain has relented, it's a slick surface and the players are fizzing around, getting warmed up. Lee Cattermole in shorts, many Sunderland players in tracksuits.

Image source, Getty Images

This is a game which should jangle a few nerves. I predict a feverish final few minutes, defenders slamming the ball clear, panic, a real mess of entertainment.

A Swansea win would move them up to 16th from their position a point above the bottom three. Sunderland cannot escape the bottom three tonight, but can move to within a point of the Swans.

Swansea interim manager Alan Curtis says: "I wouldn't call it a must-win game at this stage but we need to win games sooner rather than later.

"We know the significance of picking up three points but we need to treat it like any other game and use our home advantage."

I'll bring you the league table shortly to make it crystal clear.

Remarkably, a quick look at the record books shows Sunderland last finished in the top eight of the Premier League in, wait for it... 2001.

This to them then is water of a duck's back.

Image source, Get

The likes of Gavin McCann may not be patrolling midfield anymore and the struggles have set in.

Swansea, promoted in 2011, have not yet faced the scrutiny a Premier League relegation battle provides. They will this season, barring a real run of results from now.

No time like the present gents.