Guehi back in training as Cooper ponders a return to action for defender
14 of Wales’ starting XV have previously tasted Grand Slam success
MARC Guehi has returned to training ahead of Swansea City’s South Wales derby clash with Cardiff City tomorrow (5.30pm).
And Steve Cooper has confirmed the Chelsea loanee will be given the opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the meeting with the Bluebirds at the Liberty Stadium.
However, Paul Arriola will once again miss out with the thigh strain that has seen him miss Swansea’s previous three games.
“We’ve not picked up anything from Bournemouth the other night We got through that unscathed,” said Cooper.
“Marc Guehi is back in light training. We’ll give him every chance for Saturday. Whether it comes too soon, we’re not too sure.
“Paul Arriola won’t be ready. Then it’s just the longer-term boys.
“Steven Benda is back in training so it’s nice to have him back. He won’t feature in the squad at the weekend but he’s a young goalkeeper we like. It’s good to have him back training with us.”
Swansea are bidding to become the first ever team to complete a league double in the fixture having won 2-0 in the Welsh capital in December.
However, Cooper knows Cardiff - who have lost just once in 13 matches under new boss Mick Mccarthy - will be a different prospect to the side they faced in the final month of 2020.
“Results-wise it’s gone well. They’ve gone on a good unbeaten run,” he explained.
“He’s an experienced manager and has seen and done most things in the game. He’s taken that into the squad that he has.
“Again, it adds to what is a unique season. This will be our 10th game in 31 days, and we know we’re coming up against a good squad with an experienced manager.
“But we’ve just got to focus on ourselves and do what it takes to be ready for it and go and commit to the game plan.”
Swansea go into Saturday’s derby contest just three points adrift of second placed Watford while they boast a game in hand over the Hornets.
But Norwich City remain in pole position to win the league and clinch one of the two automatic promotion places having secured nine consecutive victories since being beaten 2-0 by the Swans in south Wales.
“They’re going to take some catching for sure,” he added.
“Since we beat them they’ve been on an unbeaten run.
“I think they’re a team in the Championship that a lot of clubs look at and admire. Not just the team on the pitch but the way the football club is run and the succession plan they put in place.
“They’re in pole position and more to get the automatic [promotion spot] and win the league.
“There’s 10 games to go, it seems amazing. I can’t believe how quick it has come around and a lot can still happen.
“When we get back after the international break it’s a Friday-monday and games will be back on us thick and fast so we’ve got to stay narrow minded in our thinking.”
UNBEATEN Wales will tap into a wealth of Grand Slam experience when they go for Guinness Six Nations title glory tomorrow.
A sixth Six Nations crown and fifth Grand Slam will be secured if they beat solitary title rivals France in Paris.
And 14 of their starting line-up at Stade de France – wing Louis Reeszammit is the exception – tasted Grand Slam success under head coach Wayne Pivac’s predecessor Warren Gatland.
“We are very lucky that in our changing room we are going to have 14 of the starting 15 having won a Grand Slam before,” Pivac said.
“There are plenty on the replacements’ bench and in the management that have also done it before.
“There is a lot of experience to call on in these situations, which is a good place to be.
“When you’ve got 14 of your starting side that have won a Grand Slam before, you want that experience and those conversations to come out. It gives confidence across the whole group.
“It is keeping the feet on the ground and realising it is another game of rugby. Yes, there is a big prize on the line, but in the other four games we’ve had to get results to be in this position.
“Seeing the boys during the jogthrough this morning, they had a bounce in their step. We are in a pretty good space.”
Pivac has made one change to a
starting XV that contains 987 caps, with lock Adam Beard returning instead of Cory Hill following a 48-7 victory over Italy in Rome last Saturday.
Four switches on the bench, meanwhile, see roles for Hill, prop Nicky Smith, flanker James Botham and scrum-half Tomos Williams, who has
recovered from a hamstring injury, among his eight replacements.
Williams started Wales’ Six Nations opener against Ireland last month, but he was hurt during that game and has not played since.
Beard, who featured in Wales’ opening three games, is back as captain Alun Wyn Jones’ second-row partner, and Gareth Davies retains the number nine shirt.
Jones equals New Zealander Richie Mccaw’s total of caps – 148 – for one country, although Jones already holds the world Test match appearance record, when his nine British and Irish Lions Tests are added.
And if Wales triumph, it would be Jones’ fourth Grand Slam as a player, which is a feat never previously achieved in 21 years of Six Nations action.
A losing bonus point would still be enough to secure Wales the title if France do not collect a five-point maximum. The French have named an unchanged team from the one beaten by England last weekend.