Swansea City winger Wayne Routledge has claimed there will be more than three points on the line when his side welcome South Wales rivals Cardiff City to the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.

The Swans will be looking end their run of four games without a home win when they host Neil Warnock's side on the weekend, in what will be the first meeting between the sides since their Premier League clash in 2014.

That match saw Swansea run out 3-0 winners with Nathan Dyer, Wilfried Bony and Routledge getting on the score sheet, and the veteran winger will again be pushing for a place in Steve Cooper's starting line-up on Sunday.

Routledge has seen his playing time limited since he signed a new contract at the club over the summer, with the 34-year-old making a total of just six appearances for the Swans this term.

However, the former Cardiff man has now spoken out ahead of the derby clash by claiming the importance of the occasion means the match has been at the back of the side's minds all season.

“It’s Swansea and Cardiff, and it’s a big occasion," he told Swansea's official club website.

"There is no getting away from that, or beating around the bush about it. If there is any game that means more than three points, it is this one.

“It’s a cliché to say you take it game by game, and one at a time. But, at the back of your mind, there is always that knowledge of the importance of the Cardiff game.

“In the context of a season, being at home, it means more."

Routledge has made 266 appearances for Swansea since he joined the club in the summer of 2011, while he has scored 29 goals during that time, including his strike against the Bluebirds.

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The Verdict

Routledge is one of the few players in the Swansea squad to have experienced the South Wales Derby along with Dyer and Declan John, and this should put the winger in contention to be involved on Sunday.

He has seen his game time perhaps unfairly limited this term given the impact he made during the second half of last term, and he will surely be itching to remind the Swansea faithful of his credentials.

There would be no better occasion for him to do this against the Bluebirds, and derbies are the kind of matches were experienced players such as Routledge can be vital to success.