New signing Kenwyne Jones says Cardiff City are out to ‘inflict as much pain as we can’ in the heat of derby battle.
But Jones admits he doesn’t believe Swansea are more vulnerable after a shock change of manager this week.
Head coach Garry Monk has taken charge following the departure of manager Michael Laudrup on Tuesday night but Jones warned: “It could be the case of a wounded animal.
“But they are probably in disarray and we have to try and inflict as much pain as we can.
“It’s more important for us because, currently, Swansea have more points.”
A year ago Jones almost signed for Swansea, but a £3.5m bid was rejected by Stoke and they were told to increase that offer to £5m.
But Jones eventually made the switch to South Wales in a swap deal with Peter Odemwingie last month and he said: “I was close to signing for Swansea but it didn’t happen for whatever reasons.
“Maybe it was disappointing that I didn’t get the chance to move somewhere new and play football, but that was last season.”
The Trinidad and Tobago international, who scored the winner on his Bluebirds debut against Norwich last weekend, has experience of intense derby rivalry having played for Sunderland against Newcastle and says he knows what to expect.
“From what I have been told it’s a mirror image of the north-east derby,” he said.
“I was a part of that a few times and certainly it’s good to be part of another derby.
“We have to play the game and not the occasion.
“The atmosphere at a derby is different. The emotions for players brought up in the area are different and they have to try and control those.
“I’ve been a part of derbies when the occasion became bigger than the game, but we are not going to let that happen.
“We are going to play the game and do everything we can to win.
“Both teams have their own situations but I believe in our case we need the points more than Swansea.
“We are not going to be overawed by the atmosphere. It’s for the fans to go wild, but we as a team have to focus on trying to win the game and earn the points we need.
“In derbies like this getting bragging rights for supporters is a major factor.
“There is added importance in that we need three points to try and get out of the relegation area. We have a decent run of fixtures to try and do that.
“Our win against Norwich was the beginning and this is our next game.”
Jones has joined a much-changed Cardiff squad with Wilfried Zaha, Fabio, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Mats Moeller Daehli, Jo Inge Berget and Spanish defender Juan Cala also coming in during January.
Cala’s move was actually confirmed after the window slammed shut but he has trained this week and could feature at Swansea.
“The transfer window is a crazy time with players coming and going but Cardiff have been fantastic in making everybody welcome,” said Jones.
“That’s what training is for, working together and understanding each other.”