Leicester v Swansea preview: Foxes without Jamie Vardy for Super Sunday clash

League leaders Leicester will be without top scorer Jamie Vardy for the visit of Swansea as they look to take a step closer to the title.

Vardy was sent off for two bookable offences against West Ham last week - the second of which for an alleged dive - but Claudio Ranieri will be confident his side can overcome Swansea without him.

Leicester are five points clear at the top with just four matches to play, but Tottenham have kept up the pace and are in fine form heading into the back end of the campaign.

With the title race set to go right to the wire, Ranieri is now turning to Riyad Mahrez to spur his side to victory on Super Sunday.

Speaking at Friday's press conference, he said: "Mahrez is fantastic. Riyad is our light. When he switches on, Leicester change colour."

Swansea sit 14th in the table, safe from relegation and unable to reach a European place in the top half. Francesco Guidolin is currently waiting to hear news on his future from the club's owners, but admits he would be sad to leave at the end of the campaign.

"I am easy, I am calm," he said. "My job is to make us do better. After that I am waiting.

"I have already spoken with the chairman about plans for next season. Our conversations continue. He told me in two weeks he will make a decision for the future."

Team news

Vardy is suspended for Leicester against Swansea after being sent off in their 2-2 draw with West Ham last weekend.

The striker faces a further ban after accepting a charge of improper conduct and could also miss next week's trip to Manchester United depending on the outcome of a Football Association hearing.

Boss Ranieri has no further injury worries other than Matty James with the midfielder not expected to feature this season after being out for almost a year with a knee injury.

Jack Cork has recovered from a facial injury to make Swansea's visit to Premier League leaders Leicester on Sunday.

The Swansea midfielder was dazed after being struck by the ball during last weekend's 3-0 defeat to Newcastle and sat out a training session on Tuesday as a precaution.

Leon Britton is in contention to start after missing the last two games with a back injury, but head coach Guidolin is expected to keep changes to a minimum despite the size of their defeat at St James' Park.

Opta stats

Leicester City's win over Swansea City this season ended a run of eight consecutive home wins in this fixture.

The Swans have won none of their last 11 trips in all competitions to play Leicester (D3 L8).

On home soil, the Foxes have won each of their last five against the Swans in all competitions, and are unbeaten in the last 11 (W8 D3).

Ranieiri's side have kept five clean sheets in their last six top-flight games, only shipping goals in that period against West Ham last time out.

Swansea have enjoyed just two victories in their last 12 Premier League away games, drawing three and losing seven.

Leicester City have made a league-low 25 changes to their starting XI this season in the Premier League.

Mahrez's only hat-trick for Leicester in any competition came in their 3-0 win over Swansea earlier this season -  when he became only the third Leicester player to score a PL hat-trick (after Ian Marshall & Stan Collymore).

Gylfi Sigurdsson is Swansea's joint-top scorer in the Premier League, along with Wilfried Bony (both 25), while the Icelandic schemer has racked up an outright-high 15 PL assists.

Merson's predictions

This game was a gimme for Leicester last week, now Jamie Vardy is suspended it's not. I don't think Vardy is a great player but without him how are Leicester going to open up the game? He stretches defences and creates space for midfielders on the ball and I can't see who will be able to replace that pace.

I just don't see Leicester winning without Vardy, he is a massive, massive miss. Swansea will just play around halfway, suffocate the Foxes and come away with a point which will blow the title race wide open.

Paul predicts: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)