By Gareth Vincent
South Wales Evening Post

Leon Britton is praying Roberto Martinez changes his Carling Cup rotation policy when Swansea City host Cardiff City in a crunch third-round tie.

The South Wales rivals meet later this month for the first time since April 1999 - barring a low-key FAW Premier Cup final six years ago - after being paired together in Saturday's draw.

The clash may be a nightmare for organisers, but fans will relish the encounter and so too will Martinez's players.

''We are buzzing about it obviously,'' Britton said.

''Personally I've been waiting six years to play Cardiff and now we're going to meet them three times this season.

''Everyone was looking at the league game in November, but now it's going to be a lot sooner and it's going to give everyone a taste of what it's all about.

''You talk to people and they always say you won't believe the atmosphere and that it's an amazing game to play in.

''You hear so much that you just want to be involved in it and I'm looking forward to the game.

''The manager has changed things round for the Carling Cup so far and it may be that he does the same thing again.

''But every one of us wants to play. I have been here a long time and I would be gutted if one of the other players came off the pitch telling me what it was like.

''I want to get the first taste of it but we'll just have to see what the gaffer decides.''

Martinez insists it is too early to contemplate his team selection for Cardiff, who will visit the Liberty Stadium for the first time in the week beginning September 22.

Past experience suggests he will mix things up, as he did against Hull City last week, but the pressure may be on Martinez from fans to field his frontline players against Swansea's arch rivals.

''We've waited a long time to play our neighbours and I'm pleased for the fans,'' said the Swansea boss.

''I'm sure they would prefer us to beat Cardiff and lose the three or four league games around the tie, but we are treating it as a third-round Carling Cup game.

''I understand what it means to the supporters and everything we do is for them. We will treat the game the way they want us to, but we would be setting out to win the game whoever we'd been drawn against.''

Swansea have a two-week break before their next outing after a frustrating 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday when they dominated but failed to take their chances.

''The players have done 126 sessions since they started,'' said Martinez. ''It's been intense and the international break comes at a good time for us.''

Swansea will announce ticket and hospitality details for the Cardiff tie once a date is agreed in the next couple of days. The game will be all-ticket and will be a bubble match for visiting fans.

Martinez is hoping the contest will not be marred by crowd trouble.

''It's important to realise it's a football game,'' he said. ''It's a huge occasion but it shouldn't go any further than football and the respect should be there.

''For many youngsters it will be the first time they've seen the clubs play an official game and we should make it an example for the future.''

Cardiff boss Dave Jones added: ''It will be a great game as long as everybody behaves themselves.''