Olly Greenwood/AFP/Getty ImagesItay Schecter, left, could get the nod at striker for Swansea Wednesday

Steve Clarke was among the names being thrown around in the summer as successor to Brendan Rodgers at the Liberty. While Swans fans are over the moon the board settled on Michael Laudrup as manager, Baggies fans are just as glad Clarke didn't come to Wales.

Regarded as 'this season's Newcastle' following Alan Pardew's unexpected success last term, Clarke's West Bromwich Albion sit in third place, which after 13 games cannot be considered a fluke. The Baggies are on a four-game winning streak and haven't squandered points since losing, ironically enough, to Newcastle.

Speaking of managerial appointments, it is noteworthy that not only was Andre Villas-Boas sacked as manager of Chelsea last March a week after losing to West Brom, the same fate just befell Roberto Di Matteo - sacked a week after losing to West Brom. While this trend seems to be exclusive to Chelsea - Rafael Benitez probably shouldn't start house hunting until the second week of next March; or at all, come to think of it - Laudrup ought to have nothing to fear.

Losing to the Baggies might be seen as unacceptable to big six teams, but it wouldn't be disgraceful for the Swans, although given their home advantage, a draw is the least Laudrup and Co. ought to be looking for Wednesday night.

The Swans managed to win both fixtures last season, 3-0 at home and 2-1 away, but that was against a somewhat different team. Having replaced Roy Hodgson, Clarke has put polish on a useful side who can play attractive, attacking football. The Swans are likely to be without strikers Danny Graham and ex-Albion man Luke Moore through the same illness which kept both out of the Liverpool match Sunday. West Brom will have had an extra day's rest, which ought to help the visitors a little, but might be without defensive monolith Jonas Olsson, which is good news for a Swans side who have been susceptible to set pieces on occasion.

West Brom striker Shane Long has been quietly becoming one of the league's most effective frontmen; all industry, opportunism and desire. Long plays a similar game to the Swans' Danny Graham, but the contrast between the two players fortunes so far this season really highlights Graham's dip in form (if not Long's simultaneous rise). But then, Long did cost almost twice as much. A direct comparison Wednesday won't be possible with Graham sidelined. so the way is once again open for loanee Itay Shechter to impress.

The lone striker role is always difficult to fill, especially for a small club, as it typically asks for a player with a complete skill set, and those types of players are usually expensive. Against Liverpool, Shechter displayed some good movement, but was found somewhat lacking in physicality. Graham, who is physical, has been lacking a scoring touch lately and has never been fast. In some ways, it might be a blessing in disguise if an ailing Jonas Olsson was to start; a crafty player such as Shechter would surely have the advantage over a burly centre back nursing an injury.

The story of this game then might come down to the strikers. The Swans will need to match Shane Long's unlimited energy (see: Chico Time), while whoever does get the nod up front for the Swans - likely to be Shechter but look for Michu as an alternative - has to find a way to get the job done. It has been five league games since the Swans starting striker scored. Thankfully, the Swans have plenty of auxiliary scoring, notably from the flanks, but need a true goal threat up front to be a complete package. Now would be a good time for Shechter to step up.

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