MICHAEL Laudrup has set mid-table in the Premier League as Swansea City's target this season ahead of tonight's Europa League clash with Malmo.
Swansea head into the third qualifying round return in Sweden with Laudrup determined to chalk up victory despite the fact that his team have a 4-0 cushion from last week's first leg.
Assuming they progress, Swansea will be just one play-off tie away from the Europa League group stage.
Laudrup has made it clear he will be disappointed if Swansea do not get that far — but he insists his primary focus is to help the club establish themselves in the top flight.
"For me success (this season) will be consolidating the team as a mid-team in the Premier League," said the Swansea manager.
"That will not be easy, because the teams below us last season like Newcastle, West Ham and Southampton have invested a lot of money because they want to go up the table.
"The main thing for us is the Premier League — if we can consolidate as a mid-table team, that will be fantastic.
"Then we have the Capital One Cup, the FA Cup and the Europa League, and I don't know what success will be (in those competitions). We will just take it step by step."
There is little pressure on Swansea's players going into this evening's game as a result of their thumping first leg triumph.
But with the league opener against champions Manchester United just nine days away, Laudrup is demanding another high-end display.
"Our main target in this game is to get through to the next round, but for me it is also important that we can produce another good performance," he added.
"It's the last game before we start the league against Manchester United and then Tottenham and that makes it important.
"We have built some momentum in pre-season and now we want to continue that.
"Malmo are at home, they will want to win in front of their own fans. There will be moments where we are not dominating so we have to cope with that.
"But we want to win this game and, if we can get another clean sheet, that will be great. It will give us confidence going into the games against the big sides we have coming up.
"I am not here to qualify by losing 2-1 or 3-2. I want to win and I want a good performance."
Swansea trained at the impressive Swedbank Stadion last night ahead of their first competitive game outside Britain for 22 years.
They will be backed by around 1,000 travelling fans as they look to finish the job against a Malmo side who could have half an eye on a key domestic fixture against AIK this weekend.
If, as expected, Swansea reach the next stage, they will face a hectic opening when the Premier League season kicks off.
Laudrup's men would face two European matches in between their domestic meetings with United, Spurs and West Brom in the first fortnight of the new campaign.
But the Dane is unruffled by the prospect of five fixtures in 14 days.
"It's not that different from last year," he said. "The big difference this year is that we will have played two competitive games before the league season starts, and that will be good for us.
"Every manager in the Premier League wonders during pre-season about what will happen when the league season begins.
"You always have some doubts — you ask 'Where are we now?' or 'How is my team?'.
"I had that feeling last year when we went to Queens Park Rangers because you cannot tell so much from pre-season friendlies. This year it is different."
