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The last time Barnsley reached Wembley was for the League One play-off final in 2016, which they won to earn promotion to the Championship.

Having seen off Walsall 6-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, the Tykes beat Millwall 3-1 in the final.

And who was Barnsley's captain that day at Wembley? None other than Conor Hourihane, the midfielder who starts for Swansea tonight.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales at the Liberty Stadium

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Ten years ago this week, Swansea City beat Nottingham Forest in the Championship play-off semi-final second leg en route to the Premier League.

Swansea's 3-1 win, sealed by a memorable Darren Pratley goal which prompted a memorable Brendan Rodgers celebration, is regarded by many of the club's fans as the finest game in the Liberty Stadium's 16-year history.

Whereas a capacity crowd watched that match, there will be around 3,000 Swansea fans present this evening as Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease.

Will those lucky enough to be in attendance witness another Swansea play-off classic, or can Valerien Ismael's high-octane Barnsley side find a route to Wembley?

It should be fun finding out.

Image source, Rex Features

Thursday was a sad day for Barnsley as they announced the death of club legend Eric Winstanley at the age of 76.

A centre-half, Winstanley made 461 appearances during an 11-year spell with the Tykes and remains the youngest player to lead the club after being handed the captaincy aged 19.

After a spell at Chesterfield, he returned to Barnsley as a coach and assisted Danny Wilson as they were promoted to the Premier League in 1997.

Barnsley have said they will look to honour Winstanley's memory at the Liberty Stadium tonight.

Swansea forward Wayne Routledge says he is looking forward to a "carnival" atmosphere at the Liberty Stadium tonight.

The 36-year-old replaces Liam Cullen as the Swans' only change from their first-leg win at Barnsley.

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It's a big night for Swansea's fans as around 3,000 of them get to watch their team play in person for the first time since March 2020.

It's a huge game too and Swans head coach Steve Cooper says his side will try to harness the "emotion" of their supporters' return as they aim to avoid a second straight season of play-off pain.

"We've been here before," Cooper said.

"The difference is we were away last year [in the second leg] and this year we're home, supporters are going to be in the stadium, so that comes into the mix as well.

"I think it will be pretty emotional to be honest, for everybody involved."

Image source, Rex Features

Barnsley are looking to end a run of poor results against Swansea.

All three games this season between the two sides have been close but the Tykes have lost all three without scoring.

"We need to start the game on Saturday like we did the second half at Oakwell, that control, that intensity, it is what we need from the first whistle," says Barnsley manager Valerien Ismael.

"Swansea didn't play their best game, but they were focused and disciplined and did the simple things properly.

"I think we are well prepared, we know what we need to do and this is the play-offs - anything can happen.

"Yes, we have lost three times against them. But if we win on Saturday that is all that matters. That is our job, our focus."

Andre Ayew, the match-winner at Oakwell, also scored Swansea's only goal when they won their first leg of last season's Championship play-off semi-final against Brentford.

The Swans lost 3-2 on aggregate on that occasion but Ayew thinks they're better prepared to reach Wembley this time.

"The guys are more experienced and with the talent that's going to help us on Saturday," he says.

You can read that interview here.

Image source, Rex Features

Let's remind ourselves of how Swansea beat Barnsley in their first leg.

It was a high-octane, all-action match played to the backdrop of a raucous atmosphere as fans returned to Oakwell.

The defning moment of the match came from Andre Ayew, whose superbly taken goal gave Swansea victory.

Here's the match report from that one.

Ian Walsh
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

It's not the same watching it on TV and it's not been the same in the stadium without supporters.

The fans are a massive part of the club.

For many of them their life is around Swansea, they spend thousands and thousands of pounds a year to follow them.

It's great to have the fans back.

Image source, BBC Sport

Barnsley, meanwhile, make two changes from the first leg.

Forwards Victor Adeboyejo and Carlton Morris replace Daryl Dike and Dominik Frieser.

Morris gets his reward after impressing from the bench at Oakwell.

Barnsley: Collins; Sibbick, Helik, Andersen; Brittain, Palmer, Mowatt, Styles; Morris, Woodrow, Adeboyejo.

Subs: Walton, J.Williams, Sollbauer, Kitching, Halme, Moon, Frieser, Chaplin, Dike.

Right then, let's get the team news for tonight's game.

Swansea make just one change from their 1-0 first-leg win at Oakwell, and it's experience replacing youth.

Veteran forward Wayne Routledge, 36, comes in and out goes 22-year-old Liam Cullen, who drops to the bench.

Swansea: Woodman; Naughton, Cabango, Guehi, Bidwell; Grimes, Fulton, Hourihane; Ayew, Routledge, Lowe.

Subs: Hamer, Roberts, Manning, Bennett, Latibeaudiere, Smith, Dhanda, Cullen, Whittaker.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Reuters

If you didn't see Brentford and Bournemouth's second leg in the other play-off semi-final earlier today, you missed an absolute cracker.

Goals, mistakes, a red card and a lot of needle - the game had it all.

Brentford recovered from a 2-0 aggregate deficit to reach a second successive Championship play-off final, but that doesn't tell you even half the story.

Here's the match report.

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The play-off action continues, and this time it's Swansea City who host Barnsley in the second leg of their Championship semi-final.

Brentford secured their place in next Saturday's final with a dramatic victory over Bournemouth earlier today, and this evening we'll discover who will be joining them at Wembley.

Swansea have a slender advantage after grinding out a 1-0 win at Oakwell last Monday.

Tonight the Swans return to the Liberty Stadium, where they will welcome their home fans back for the first time since March 2020.

This is a huge match and, if it's anything like the game at Brentford, we're in for a treat.