by Chris Nokes
When Cardiff meet Swansea on Sunday there will be a lot more than local pride at stake for both clubs as a win for Swansea would see them catapult their way back into the play-off reckoning, whilst victory for Cardiff would see the Bluebirds consolidate their play-off position and leave them still with the chance of automatic promotion.
It was this aspect Dave was more focused on whilst discussing the clash when speaking to the press, saying, "The game is important for us just as it is for Swansea. We'll have to compete with them and be at our best as we have had to be all season to win matches. It's got all the ingredients of being a good derby game and they'll be lots more passion and lots more noise. The tables are turned now though because this time we have more fans and we're expecting them to make all the noise."
This game follows a two week international break and whilst some players like Ross McCormack and Joe Ledley have been representing their respective nations, the period has been used as much needed rest ahead of another busy schedule of fixtures.
"Most of the squad have had three or four days off and we've been waiting for all the international boys to return," Dave explained. "Also we have an extra day off because it's a Sunday fixture which is good and we've never had it before. We'll have to use the whole squad now with four games in eight days coming up, but now we can use the squad instead of pushing a player who isn't really ready, as we've had to do before.
"The people waiting in the wings know they have to take their chance though when it comes to them. But I've said this before that the player's professionalism is a credit to the club in the way they look after themselves."
As far as injuries go for the game, Dave has some good news in terms of goalkeepers that he now has available - Tom Heaton the most recent man to be back in action after a spell on the sidelines.
"Tom's fit and back in contention," said Dave. "He looks good in training and we're probably only looking at one or two weeks for Peter Enckelman to be back and ready."
Watch the whole interview now on Cardiff City World and hear what Dave had to say on tiredness, Steve McPhail and Ross McCormack's rave reviews in Scotland.
