Michael Duff | It's an opportunity and a challenge

Head coach Michael Duff wants Swansea City to embrace the opportunity and challenge of taking on Premier League opposition when they face Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup tonight (7.30pm).

The Swans host the Cherries in the second-round tie, having seen off Northampton Town in the first round of the competition.

The visitors, meanwhile, enter the cup at this stage, along with all other top-flight clubs not involved in European competition.

The Swans will start as underdogs and Duff – who helped Burnley secure three separate promotions to the Premier League – believes the gap between the top two tiers is only widening due to the financial disparity.

But he wants his players to take the chance to continue to implement the work they are doing on the training ground.

“It will be a tough game because the gap to the Premier League has grown, it is getting bigger and bigger,” said Duff.

“You look at Burnley, they were promoted with 100 points last season yet they are instantly one of the three favourites for relegation.

“It shows how big the gap between the levels is, and it’s becoming a bit like it used to be years ago where there were big gaps between the division, but now it is due to finances.

“But it is an opportunity, it is a challenge and a chance to continue to work on certain things.

“It will be the same as the Northampton game, we will not make wholesale changes. I certainly don’t see us making 11 changes.

“But there may be two or three depending on injuries and how the squad is looking.”