Preview: Cardiff City vs. Swansea City - prediction, team news, lineups

The 114th South Wales derby between Cardiff City and Swansea City takes place on Saturday afternoon, but very little is at stake apart from bragging rights in this meeting.

The two clubs are separated by just two points in the Championship table – the Bluebirds are 17th and the Swans are 16th – with both clear of relegation danger.

Match preview

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Cardiff look to be finishing the campaign strongly after dangerously hovering above the relegation zone up until February.

The Bluebirds have taken 10 points from the last 12 available and are now aiming to go five matches unbeaten for the first time this season.

Steve Morison's side won 2-1 against Stoke City in their last game before the international break to move level on points with the Potters, who they trailed by 15 points only two months ago.

Only Hull City have lost more Championship games on home turf (11) than Cardiff this season (10), but the Bluebirds have only been beaten once in their last eight matches in the Welsh capital.

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Swansea have won two of their last three away games, having lost three in a row on the road before that.

Russell Martin's side drew 0-0 with Birmingham City before the international break, meaning they have picked up just one victory from their last four matches but are unbeaten in their last two.

The Swans eased to a 3-0 victory over Cardiff in this season's reverse fixture and have won four of the last six meetings, but neither side has ever done the league double over the other in the same campaign.

Martin's team have sat above their rivals in the table since the beginning of October, but defeat on Saturday would see them get leapfrogged.

Team News

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Cardiff academy graduates Isaak Davies and Mark Harris will battle for a place upfront alongside Jordan Hugill, with Uche Ikpeazu now firmly categorised as 'super sub'.

Rubin Colwill scored his first senior Wales goal during the international break and will be pushing for a start in the Bluebirds' midfield.

Sean Morrison, Curtis Nelson and Max Watters remain sidelined through injury for the hosts.

Flynn Downes and Jamie Paterson are expected to return for Swansea after missing the draw with Birmingham before the international break with minor muscle issues.

Paterson scored once and assisted the other two goals in the Swans' win over Cardiff in October, but he has found the net just once in his last 11 appearances.

Ryan Manning remains unavailable as he serves the final match of his four-game ban after receiving a red card against Fulham.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Smithies; Drameh, Ng, Flint, McGuinness, Bagan; Doyle, Wintle, Ralls; Hugill, Davies

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Fisher; Naughton, Cabango, Downes; Christie, Grimes, Smith, Wolf; Paterson; Piroe, Obafemi

We say: Cardiff City 2-1 Swansea City

Cardiff head into the derby in much better form and we think the Bluebirds will come out on top to stop their rivals doing the league double over them. Morison is getting the best out of his team and they could end the season strongly.