Oxford v Swansea preview: New manager Alan Curtis plans to field Jonjo Shelvey

Swansea manager Alan Curtis will rotate heavily in the FA Cup at Oxford for his first game in full-time charge.

Former caretaker boss Curtis will stand down several first-team regulars for Sunday's third-round tie, with Swansea hosting Sunderland in a crunch Barclays Premier League battle three days later.

Curtis plans to field Jonjo Shelvey into the clash at Oxford amid reports that the England midfielder could leave in January.

Playing Shelvey at the Kassam Stadium would cup-tie the 23-year-old if he were to move on in this month's transfer window, but Swansea boss Curtis has again insisted he wants the former Charlton and Liverpool midfielder to stay in south Wales.

"It's fair to say that Jonjo will play on Sunday and hopefully he will show everybody what he's capable of," said Curtis, who takes charge in a permanent capacity for the first time.

Swedish goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt, central defenders Jordi Amat and Kyle Bartley and wide men Jefferson Montero and Modou Barrow are among those set to come in, while left-back Frank Tabanou and striker Eder will feature if they have recovered from respective thigh and ankle injuries.

Oxford boss Michael Appleton is braced for a tactical battle against the Premier League opposition, but admits his players may have to get used to chasing the ball.

"To see the best of us I'd probably rather play a team who go a bit more direct to be honest," said Appleton.

"It's going to be very different to what we are used to, because week to week the reality is we have more possession than the opposition - but I'd be very surprised if we have more possession than Swansea.

"So we have to be very good out of possession; we have to be organised, disciplined, we have to know when to press the ball and when not to.

"It's going to be more of a game of chess from our point of view. From Swansea's point of view, because they are playing against a team from the fourth tier, they'll probably expect to beat us comfortably."

Opta facts

Oxford have been drawn to face Swansea on one previous occasion, with the Us eliminated on penalties following a replay in 1993.

Oxford last reached the fourth round of the FA Cup in 1999, when they were beaten 4-2 by Chelsea in a replay at Stamford Bridge.

Swansea's 3-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers in the fourth round last season was the first time in four ties they had lost to a lower-ranked team as a top-flight side.

Swansea have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 away games in the FA Cup, last shutting out Portsmouth in 2009.