by Tom Young
WHILST most of Wales will have their eyes on the Grand Slam decider with Ireland on Saturday evening, there is the small matter of an FA Cup quarter final taking place at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea.
The Championship side host Premier League leaders Manchester City for a place in the semi-finals of the oldest national cup competition in football.
Pep Guardiola’s is still in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple, having already claimed this season’s Carabao Cup and booked a quarter final showdown in the Champions League against Tottenham Hotspur.
There are expected to be a number of changes from the visiting side, but Guardiola will be wary of underestimating the Swans, having exited last season’s competition at the hands of then Championship outfit Wigan Athletic.
Manchester City fan and season ticket holder Tom Greggan, 26, thinks it will be a game that the Swans and their fans will be up for.
“I think Swansea will be up for it but I’m not sure how they are going to set up. I have seen them play a couple of times this season and I know they try to play good football but if they do that then they risk getting beat by a higher margin so it will interesting to see how they approach the game.’
“It’s been quite a poor season for Swansea so I’m sure that their fans will be bang up for it, however I’m expecting us to get the job done.”
Ederson is likely to retain his spot between the sticks, whilst Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones remain the only fit senior centre backs so appear to be guaranteed a start. Danilo and Kyle Walker look set to start at full back.
Academy graduate Phil Foden, who put in a man of the match performance in his side’s 4-1 victory at Newport County in the last round, may be handed another start, alongside Ilkay Gundogan and David Silva.
Riyad Mahrez is expected to return to the starting eleven on the right-hand side of a front three alongside Brazilian Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane, with Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero likely to be given a rest having started in the emphatic 7-0 victory over Schalke in midweek.
Kick off at the Liberty Stadium is 5.20pm.