Town manager Jim Magilton has limited defensive options ahead of Saturday's home FA Cup fourth round tie against Swansea City. The Blues are without Jason De Vos (cracked metatarsal), Alex Bruce, David Wright (both suspended) and Ian Miller (cup-tied).

Their absence will see Richard Naylor continue as captain with Fabian Wilnis the favourite to join him at centre-half, while Chris Casement is likely to come in at right-back. Sito, whose wife is due to give birth to their first child imminently, is another possible option on the right of the defence.

Owen Garvan is fit again after his absence due to a foot injury and could replace Gavin Williams in the centre of the midfield. The much-speculated-about Welshman has missed training this week as a precaution due to his ongoing groin problems.

Jaime Peters is likely to keep his place on the right after putting in his two most impressive Town performances in the last two games. Gary Roberts will be on the left.

Up front, new man Jon Walters will not be available even if his deal is completed today, having been cup-tied while with Chester, having featured in both games against the Blues and earlier in the competition. However, the 23-year-old could be introduced to the crowd before kick-off.

Billy Clarke is likely to continue to partner Alan Lee, with Danny Haynes showing again that he is most dangerous when coming off the bench in last week's 3-2 victory over Colchester.

Magilton says he had the Swans watched earlier in the week and his representatives were impressed: “Bryan [Klug] and Steve [Foley] went to see them on Tuesday night and they are a very good side. They have Lee Trundle back and he is obviously the catalyst for a lot of their play, so we have to be wary of him.

“There are a number of games in which we have had to really dig in this season and we will have to dig in again on Saturday. It's all about getting in the hat for round five now.”

A victory and an attractive draw in round five of the FA Cup could allow Magilton to enter the transfer market once more in the final week of the transfer window. Town last reached round five of the cup in 1995/96.

Swansea manager Kenny Jackett is confident his side have what it takes to cause another shock: "It's a big hurdle to overcome, but there's no reason why we can't go to Ipswich and give a good account of ourselves.

"Ipswich are a good footballing side with good players, but I used to enjoy going to Portman Road as a player and I'm looking forward to going there as a manager.

"We've had a good cup run, in one competition or another, every season I've been here.

"It generates a good profile, financial rewards and enjoyment for the fans, myself and the players. I'd like to keep the run going.''

The Swans are set to recall midfielder Darren Pratley to their starting line-up in place of the cup-tied Ian Craney.

Defender Kevin Austin is suspended for picking up his fifth yellow card in a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest last week and Izzy Iriekpen is likely to take over.

New Swans signing and rumoured Town target Pawel Abbott is available for selection having not played in the FA Cup for his previous club Huddersfield Town. Jackett will choose his frontmen from the former Polish U21 international, Adebayo Akinfenwa and the talismanic Lee Trundle.

Midfielder Tom Butler is 50/50 after picking up a thigh muscle injury during Tuesday's game with Gillingham. Andy Robinson could replace him.

The Swans defeated Newport County 3-1 in round one, the game famed for the coin-throwing incident, then beat Darlington by the same score in round two before their 3-0 giant-killing of Sheffield United in the last round. All of those games were away from home.

Jackett switched from their usual 4-4-2 formation to a 4-5-1 against the Blades and could do the same again at Portman Road.

The Blues and Swans have not previously met in the FA Cup. Swansea were last at Portman Road in 1982/83 when Town won a First Division game 3-1 (Osman, Wark, Burley). The game in Wales later that season ended 1-1 (Mariner).

The Swans are understood to have sold just over 2,000 of their 4,362 seats, while 14,800 Town supporters had purchased tickets as of Thursday.

Saturday's referee is Premiership official Mark Halsey who has shown 66 yellow and seven red cards in 25 games this season. Halsey's last Town game was the 2-1 home victory over Southampton in September. The Lancashire-based official was in charge of last week's tempestuous Reading-Sheffield United clash.

Fans driving to the game from the direction of London should be aware that a section of the A12 will be closed in both directions this weekend.

The stretch between the A133 Spring Lane interchange (J27) and the A120 Crown interchange (J29) are closed from midnight on Friday until 5am on Monday.

The work is to allow the demolition of the old Braiswick road bridge. The new bridge will be installed in April when drivers will face further problems.

A diversion will be put in place throughout the weekend but delays are likely. The diversion will take traffic through Colchester via Cymbeline Way, Cowdray Avenue and Ipswich Road.

Squad: Barron, Brittain, Casement, Clarke, Garvan, Harding, Haynes, Lee, Legwinski, Naylor, O'Callaghan, Peters, Price, Richards, Roberts, Sito, Supple, Williams, Wilnis.

Photo: Action Images

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