David Wetherall is up for the challenge of shackling Swansea's main man Lee Trundle.

The maverick striker faces City for the first time tomorrow after missing both of last season's matches through injury.

Trundle, who even boasts his own clothing range, is still at the Liberty Stadium despite interest from several clubs - and Wetherall is interested to see what the hype is all about.

The City skipper said: "I watched him play a few years ago at the centenary tournament at Valley Parade and he looked very good that day. He's obviously got great ability and his goal-scoring record would back that up.

"I'm not surprised, given the goals he has scored, that a lot of clubs from higher divisions wanted his services but he must have a great affinity with Swansea to stick there.

"He is very popular at the club and that will have come into his thinking.

"He'll want to play at a higher level and I'm sure he'll want to do that with Swansea."

Swansea suffered the massive blow of losing in the play-off final on penalties against Barnsley in May.

Having splashed out heavily on beefing up the squad, boss Kenny Jackett is under big pressure to get it right this season.

Jackett has spent nearly £1m on seven players, including £300,000 on misfiring striker Rory Fallon, since January - a mind-boggling figure for League One - and the home fans are demanding promotion.

Wetherall added: "With that spending power you're expected to be up the top. A lot of other teams would love to have that sort of cash to spend, I'm sure our gaffer would, and they will be among the favourites to be there or thereabouts.

"They could well have gone up last season but missed out in the end and sometimes clubs can suffer a hangover from a disappointment like their play-off defeat. If you don't get off to a decent start then it can be difficult.

"But anybody looking at the teams in our league know that Swansea should do well again."

Wetherall has happy memories from City's first visit to the Liberty in February when he headed the equaliser in a 1-1 draw. He is hoping for a repeat performance - to silence the good-natured ribbing he has been getting from Mark Bower.

His fellow centre half fired his second goal of the season at Brentford last week while Wetherall is still looking to get off the mark.

"A few people seem to be jumping on the bandwagon regarding Bowser and me," he laughed. "He never mentioned a goal competition to me until he got in front."