Manchester City will be hoping to offer Premier League new boys Swansea City a baptism of fire on Monday night.
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Manchester City will be hoping to offer Premier League new boys Swansea City a baptism of fire on Monday night.
The Blues are expected to mount a title charge this season, with further investment in the playing staff over the summer suggesting they mean business.
Defeat to Manchester United in the Community Shield, after being two goals up, will have offered them a timely reminder, though, that they can take nothing for granted.
Roberto Mancini will also be aware that it would be foolish to take the Swans lightly, following their heroics in the Championship last season.
The Welsh outfit are still riding the crest of a wave which took them through the play-offs, via Wembley, and all the way to the top flight.
Brendan Rodgers' side have a reputation for playing good football and will not be intimidated by the prospect of a trip to Manchester.
They will, however, be aware that they have suffered defeat in their last five opening day fixtures, with that run of setbacks now the longest in the four tiers of English football.
In contrast, City will head into their first game of the new season on the back of a formidable series of results on home soil.
They have been held the last five times they have opened up in front of their own supporters, but they have won nine and lost none of their last 10 Premier League games at Eastlands.
Team news
Want-away Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez will sit out Monday's fixture.
The Blues skipper only returned to training this week and, with his future still uncertain, Mancini does not feel it is worth pushing the 27-year-old into the fray.
Tevez's international colleague Sergio Aguero may be involved for the first time since his club-record £38million move from Atletico Madrid, although Mancini reckons he could contribute only 45 minutes at best.
Club captain Garry Monk is a major doubt for what will be an historic fixture in Swansea's history.
The defender, who signed a new three-year contract earlier this week, is struggling with a foot injury and may have to wait for the home clash with Wigan to make his first appearance of the campaign.
Goalkeeper Michel Vorm comes straight into the squad after completing his move from FC Utrecht and will battle fellow new signing Jose Moreira for the starting berth.
Danny Graham, Leroy Lita, Wayne Routledge and Steven Caulker are also in line to make their debuts at the Etihad Stadium, but Neil Taylor is suspended.
Possible starting XIs
Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Silva, Barry, De Jong, Toure, Dzeko, Balotelli.
Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Tate, Williams, Caulker, Britton, Agustien, Dobbie, Dyer, Sinclair, Graham.
