By Stephen Ware
South Wales Evening Post

Swansea City skipper Garry Monk is relishing the renewal of the South Wales derby against Cardiff City next season.

Like almost all the current squad , Monk has not sampled a South Wales derby, but is under no illusions as to the importance of the game.

"Kristian O'Leary and the boys who have been here for a while and have played in those games know how much it means to the fans," he said.

"I'm excited about them coming down here, but I'm really looking forward to going up there.

"I've played in the Sheffield derby and Southampton v Portsmouth and I've lived here for four years so I know what it means to the fans.

"There's a big rivalry. We want to win bragging rights and I'm sure the Cardiff players are exactly the same."

Monk found it hard to pick a highlight from a list of stand-out fixtures published yesterday, but admitted the return to former club Southampton on January 31 is one he is eagerly anticipating.

"I'm looking forward to the lot, almost everyone's a massive game," he said.

"I've still got friends around Southampton and everyone of them is looking forward to that day. I've had a few texts already and I'm sure I'll get more. It's one of the biggest fixtures for me.

"It shows that the hard work we put in last year was worthwhile and how important it was that we got promotion to play these teams this year.

"Nearly every single game is going to be a fresh challenge and our ground is going to be packed.

"Instead of 200 or 300 away fans there are going to be 2,000 or 3,000.

"Our fans will be happy, but it's the away games I'm looking for and the opportunity to play at big grounds. That gives everyone a lift."

Swansea City will spend the next week finalising the fixtures for the new Championship campaign.

They kick off their first season back in English football's second tier for 25 years with a trip to Charlton on August 9.

Nottingham Forest, who also gained automatic promotion from League One last season, then visit the Liberty Stadium seven days later.

A number of fixtures are likely to change on police advice and to avoid clashes with rugby internationals.

Cardiff are currently set to travel to Swansea on November 29, with the return fixture on April 4.

Both games will be 'bubble' matches and seem certain to be moved by police and to accommodate possible screening on Sky TV.

The game at the Liberty Stadium also clashes with Wales's international with Australia.

Other home matches against Watford (November 8) and Birmingham (November 22) may move because Wales play South Africa and New Zealand on those days.

The Liberty Stadium encounter with Crystal Palace on March 14 is also likely to change because Wales are scheduled to play Italy in the Six Nations.

Swansea face a tough September in which they take on Premier League drop-outs Derby and Reading, and an equally challenging October sees them tackle title tips Wolves twice and big-spending QPR at home.

Another club relegated from the top flight, Birmingham, follow in November, before Roberto Martinez's side face Blackpool (December 20), Coventry (December 26) and Birmingham again (December 28) over the Christmas period.

Swansea's 2006 play-off final foes Barnsley are Swansea's hosts on Easter Monday, two days after Norwich journey to South Wales, while Lee Trundle returns to the Liberty with Bristol City on April 18.

Swansea conclude their Championship campaign with a home match against Blackpool on May 3.