Luke Williams says Swansea City will face a Premier League side in waiting when they host “absolutely fabulous” Leeds United on Sunday.
Daniel Farke’s team finished third in the Championship last season but missed out on an immediate return to the Premier League after play-off final defeat to Southampton.
Williams expects Leeds to go one better this season by finishing in the second tier’s top two.
“Personally I think they will,” said the Swansea head coach.
“It’s not like there aren’t other excellent sides in the division, but this group have been together and had a very good season last season, when [they missed out as] the teams at the top had very high points totals.
“They have built on that and have an excellent manager who has been in this position in many times. That’s a good combination.”
Leeds beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 in their last game before the international break, which was a fourth win in six games for Farke’s side.
They have a squad packed with stellar Championship performers, including former Swans Joe Rodon, Daniel James and Joel Piroe.
“They are an absolutely fabulous team at the level,” Williams added.
“But we have competed this season against the top sides better than we did last season, so we have to take some confidence from that and be brave and try to make a really good performance at home.
“We will have to be immaculate defensively and we will have to be ruthless at the other end.”
Swansea have lost only one league game on their ground so far this season, when Millwall snatched an undeserved victory by scoring the only goal on a breakaway in the closing minutes.
Leeds, meanwhile, are looking to improve their away record. While they have won five straight games at Elland Road, the Yorkshire side have not registered an away victory in the last four attempts.