Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Liberty Stadium

Managers are often eager to play down the significance of matches, reluctant to stray into hyperbole and wary of putting too much pressure on their players. Not today.

Paul Clement has said his Swansea side must win this match against Stoke, describing it as the club’s most important fixture since the Championship play-off final they won in 2011.

Stoke, meanwhile, are free of the stress of a relegation scrap as they find themselves in the familiar comfort of mid-table security.

That is not to say they will simply roll over today, though. They demonstrated as much with victory against Swansea’s relegation rivals Hull last weekend, and Mark Hughes’ men could have another major say in the battle to avoid the drop this afternoon.

Ian Dennis
Senior football reporter at Liberty Stadium for 5 live Sport

Image source, PA

It's a gorgeous day here in South Wales. Paul Clement believes that if Swansea win three of their five remaining games they will have a chance of staying up. 

Clement has ramped up the pressure - there's no hiding from that fact that this is a massive fixture for the Swans.

Swansea manager Paul Clement says his players know just how big today's game is.

"I think there has been some criticism this week about a lack of effort or lack of passion, but I don't believe the players are not trying or that they don't understand what's at stake,” Clement said.

"They know how important this is for the club, for the fans and for the city.

"The big thing is that the belief is still there. With five games to go, I still believe there are a lot of twists and turns ahead and I still think it will go to the very end."

Here's a nice touch from Nathan Redmond.

The Southampton winger, a former team-mate of Jack Butland's at Birmingham, has welcomed the goalkeeper's return from injury.

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It really is great to see Jack Butland's name back on that Stoke team sheet.

He has not played since breaking his ankle playing for England against Germany 13 months ago.

Image source, Getty Images

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Liberty Stadium

Swansea City head coach Paul Clement makes four changes from last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Watford. Midfielder Leon Britton captains the team as he makes his first appearance of the year in place of Jay Fulton, while Stephen Kingsley, Tom Carroll and Jordan Ayew come in for Martin Olsson, Ki Sung-yueng and Luciano Narsingh.

Swansea XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Kingsley; Britton, Carroll, Fer, Sigurdsson; Llorente, Ayew.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes makes three changes from the 3-1 victory over Hull, with goalkeeper Jack Butland making his first appearance of the season after a long injury. He replaces Lee Grant, while former Swansea midfielder Joe Allen is fit again as Marc Muniesa misses out and Peter Crouch comes in for Charlie Adam as Hughes reverts to a four-man defence.  

Stoke XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Shaqiri, Cameron, Allen, Arnautovic; Crouch, Berahino.  

And this is why the game is just so crucial to Swansea. 

With five games left in the Premier League, the Swans start today’s game 18th two points from safety. 

A win could see Paul Clement’s side climb out of the relegation zone, depending on Hull’s result against Watford at the KCOM. 

Stoke on the other hand are 11th. A point would see Mark Hughes’ team pass 40 points for the ninth consecutive season and potentially move them back into the top 10.

Image source, Rex Features

“Stoke becomes a must-win game.

"It is probably the biggest game the club has seen in a few years, probably since the play-off final.”

The words of Swansea manager Paul Clement after his side’s defeat to Swansea last week.

Well that game is here.

This one is huge.