By Steve Tucker
Western Mail

In his career Swansea City midfielder Darren Pratley has had the briefest taste of life in the Premiership and admits he wants some more.

It could be a long road to the promised land for the 23-year-old and his Swans' team-mates, but they take their next tentative step on that journey against Sheffield Wednesday at the Liberty Stadium today.

With Championship consolidation the main aim this season, nobody is foolhardy enough to even whisper about any higher ambitions at this early stage.

But, with two league wins and a defeat under their belts and some assured showings, confidence is high in the camp and Pratley attests Roberto Martinez and his men are already proving they have every right to be rubbing shoulders with the 'big boys' now.

"We have always been a confident bunch and we know we are in this league because we deserve to be after coming up as champions by some distance," said Pratley.

"I don't think any of us ever felt the Championship was going to be too good for us. We have still got a lot to prove, but we have to be reasonably pleased with our start.

"The loss at Charlton on the opening day was disappointing, but we took heart from the performance there. I think we were the better team on the day.

"Now, in the last two games, we seem to have got a bit of a reaction from losing and that has been good for us.

"The way we came back shows a bit of character.

"The Nottingham Forest win was handy in front our own fans because it gives them too that little bit of belief.

"The win at Plymouth was a good one for us. We were good on the road last year and it was good to get out first win away in the Championship, and it is a difficult place to go, Plymouth.

"But it is very early doors and we are not going to get carried away."

Barking-born Pratley began his career ar Fulham, but made just two substitute appearances for the Londoners in the Premiership and Carling Cup.

Loaned out to Brentford, he made the switch to the Swans for £100,000 back in June 2006.

He more than anyone knows the progress made at the club and admits, as he has gone about his business, there has been a little revenge mission helping him keep ticking over.

"My aim has always been to play in the Premiership. I had a couple of appearances at Fulham, but then I came here because I wanted to play games," said Pratley. "I was young at Fulham and had some good lads ahead of me.

"But always at the back of your mind is that thought that one day you want to go back to Fulham and prove to them you were good enough to get in their team.

"You want to prove you can play in the Premiership and show you were not just some kind of one hit wonder.

"I know that is my ambition and I know that is the ambition in the rest of the team.

"All you can do in the end is train hard and work hard every day then do your best to go out there and win every game and see where that takes you."

Pratley's unceasing endeavour in the middle of the park has established him as a favourite with the Swans faithful.

And already this season he has been the subject of some glowing reviews by those not already aware of what he can do.

But all the plaudits in the world really make no odds to the level-headed player.

"I try to set myself good standards and go about my work in the right way," said Pratley.

"When I get good write-ups, I don't go home and drink champagne and when I get criticised, I don't go home and cry.

"It's good to have people saying nice things about you, but if I play badly in the next game then I will be getting slated. I don't read too much into all that.

"That is the way football is. You just have to get on with it and try to enjoy what you do."

Wednesday, under manager Brian Laws, arrive at the Liberty today after a fair-to-middling start to their campaign.

After struggling last season, they have started this time with a win, a loss and a draw. but Pratley insists, just like every week at this level, a stern challenge most certainly lies ahead.

Pratley commented: "Every game this season will be tough. Wednesday are a good side, they've got a few good players. It's going to be tough, but we are feeling confident and we are hoping for another three points."

And, with a tough long season still lying ahead, Pratley is keeping any Premiership dreams firmly out of mind.

Indeed, ensuring he and his team-mates are still enjoying life in the Championship come next term is of far more importance to the midfielder at this moment in time.

"We've not been in this league for 24 years and the minimum requirement is that we are still in this league next year," added Pratley

"After that we can look forward to other things.

"There's no point in anyone talking about play-offs and promotion when you're still in August, is there?"