Caretaker manager Leon Britton has insisted that it is wrong to write off Swansea City's survival hopes after defying expectations to stay up last season.

The Swans face a huge showdown with Crystal Palace on Saturday, aiming to reduce the gap between themselves and the eight other sides in serious relegation trouble.

City were 19th at Christmas last season but eventually pulled themselves to a credible 15th-place finish, which Britton - out of the running to take charge permanently - is hoping to use to his side's advantage in their latest battle to avoid the drop.

"Of course there are going to be people who write us off, you understand that, but I think last year people did the same thing and were able to get out of it," he told reporters.

"So you have got to use that experience, keep the belief, and we can do it. I do believe use that given the squad of players we've got here and the quality that we can get out of this situation."

Swansea also take on Liverpool, Watford and Tottenham Hotspur over the Christmas and New Year period.