Up-and-coming boss Brendan Rodgers is confident the lower League grounding of his Swansea squad will help them avoid a Carling Cup upset at Shrewsbury tonight.

The bulk of the players charged with helping top flight new boys City adjust to the highest level of the domestic game have plied their trade at lower levels in England.

And Rodgers – who went to the unusual step of naming his likely starting XI in his pre-match press conference yesterday – believes that will be a key factor at the Greenhous Meadow tonight.

“It’s going to be a tough game but thankfully I have good players who have come through the Leagues,” said Rodgers, who has continued Swansea’s trademark brand of easy-on-the-eye football since arriving from Reading in July 2010.

“The players have been on that journey so we are not arriving at Shrewsbury as Premier League superstars.

“A lot of the guys have been involved at that level and they understand what can happen if your concentration or application isn’t right.

“It will be a difficult game, they have a good manger with a lot of experience in Graham Turner and one or two players who can cause you a problem.

“We need to prepare as we do for any team and look to do a professional job, because Shrewsbury will have a big motivation to do well.

“But we want to do well in the cups – that is something we highlighted when we sat down with the staff and players in pre-season.”

Should Rodgers select he side he outlined to the south Wales media yesterday, only two players who started Saturday’s goalless draw with Wigan on Saturday will begin tonight’s clash.

But they are key figures in Welsh defender Ashley Williams and record signing Danny Graham – a £3.5m summer arrival from Watford – providing the first team spine.

Leroy Lita and Joe Allen were both made substitute appearances against the Latics, while former Aston Villa and Albion forward Luke Moore will be no stranger to football fans.

Likely Swansea team: Jose Moreira, Daniel Alfei, Alan Tate, Ashley Williams, Joe Walsh, Mark Gower, Joe Allen, Andrea Orlandi, Leroy Lita, Danny Graham, Luke Moore.

By JAMES GARRISON