Preview: Merthyr Tydfil v Swansea

After what will seem an eternity for many supporters, Swansea are set for their first action of the summer since Andy Robinson's volley won the FAW Premier Cup at the Vetch Field over two months ago. Clinching promotion on the final day of the season, the club's preparations for League One are now well underway, with non-league Merthyr Tydfil set to provide Swansea's first pre-season test on Saturday. So what can Swansea expect from their trip to Penydarren Park??

Merthyr Tydfil are one of the few Welsh-based sides still to be playing within the English football pyramid, with "The Martyrs" currently members of the Southern Premier - four divisions below the Swans. Merthyr's finest moment was arguably winning the Welsh Cup in 1987, beating league-outfit Newport County 1-0 in a replayed final and thus winning a place in Europe. The Martyrs played Italian Cup runners-up Atalanta Bergomo, dramatically winning 2-1 in Italy before being beaten 2-0 in the home-leg and thus ending their European dream.

Two seasons later, Merthyr reached the peak of the non-league football pyramid by winning promotion to the Conference, where they stayed until financial difficulties forced relegation in 1996. Merthyr now find themselves in the Southern Premier, where they were beaten in the playoffs by Hendesford Town last season and are hoping to gain funds and clearance for an all-seater 12,000 stadium, set to cost in the region of £100m - to be named the "Methyr Village".

One familiar name that Swansea fans will recognise on the Martyr's team-sheet tomorrow, will be that of ex-loanee Craig Steins. Steins joined Swansea on a season-long loan during the dreaded 02/03 season but was told that the club were not interested in his services after making only a handful of appearances. Steins hit 22 goals in last year's campaign and in May, the player of the season opted to extend his contract until next summer. Merthyr have a number of ex-football league players, including ex-Cardiff and Sheffield United defender Jeff Eckhardt and ex-Cardiff defender Steve Williams. Another likely member of the Merthyr side on Saturday will be ex-Swansea target Ashley Morris - the highly rated goalkeeper who has also attracted interest from Newcastle and Leicester City.

Three new faces will be present for the Swans in tomorrow's pre-season opener, with Adebayo Akinfenwa, Marc Goodfellow and trialist Stuart Edwards all set to play some part over the course of 90 minutes. All of last season's squad, with the exception of Stuart Jones, Antonio Corbisiero, James Thomas and possibly Paul Connor who is expected to be discussing terms in the north-east, will be present including the new "slim-line" Lee Trundle, who has apparently lost almost a stone over pre-season!!!