By Gareth Vincent
South Wales Evening Post

The Espanyol old boys line up against their former employers tonight with Guillem Bauza urging Swansea City to beware the pouncing Parakeets.

Espanyol, nicknamed the Parakeets - or Periquitos - after their blue and white striped shirts, see the friendly with Swansea as a first serious test of pre-season as they count down to the start of a new La Liga campaign at the end of the month.

The game also means a reunion with former players Albert Serran, Fede Bessone and Bauza, while Jordi Gomez is on loan from Espanyol to Swansea for the season ahead.

Bauza never played for the Barcelona club's first team, and signed for Swansea 12 months ago after two seasons with Espanyol B.

But the two squads often trained together, so the popular striker has first-hand knowledge about the size of the task facing Swansea in Palamos tonight.

And he believes being wary of Espanyol's rapid attacks will be key to Swansea's chances of success.

"They play a different kind of game from what we face in the English league," Bauza said.

"They will try to get control of the ball and they will play from the back.

"Normally, they will be slow when they are in possession at the back. But then, when they want to change the pace, they do it so quickly you don't even realise.

"You have not noticed but suddenly they are in your penalty box. They know the tempo of the game they want to play and they are a very good squad, at the first level in La Liga.

"Against them, we have to make good decisions and try to play as well as we can."

At this stage of the season, results count for very little.

Yet a positive outcome for Swansea tonight would represent a major confidence booster going into the new league campaign - just as the draw with Dutch top-flight side Sparta Rotterdam did this time last year.

And while Espanyol, who threatened the Champions League places for much of last season before falling away, start as warm favourites, Bauza believes Swansea have a chance of upsetting them.

"We will try to win the game, as always, and you can see in the English FA Cup that these things can happen," said Bauza, a goalscorer in Swansea's 4-2 humbling at Havant & Waterlooville last term.

"All the time there are matches where teams from a lower league beat teams from a higher level and, if Espanyol are not ready, we will be."

Bauza will say hello to a few old friends from his Espanyol days pre-kick-off before attempting to continue his pre-season hot streak in front of goal.

"I'm happy with my form," he added.

"Pre-season is about getting yourself ready for when the season starts, and as a striker that means scoring goals.

"I have got seven so far which is pleasing, although we have been playing matches against teams who are not at the same level as we are.

"That will not be the case when we play Espanyol."