Bournemouth v Swansea preview: Harry Arter a doubt for Cherries

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe will make a late decision on whether Harry Arter is fit to face Swansea City on Saturday.

Arter was absent for the 3-1 win over Newcastle United last weekend with an Achilles injury.

Howe said: "He missed the Newcastle game and we'll leave it late again."

Swansea, meanwhile, will be without their head coach, Francesco Guidolin, who spent five days in hospital last week with a chest infection.

The Italian was released on Monday but has been told by doctors to rest. Coach Alan Curtis will prepare the team in Guidolin's absence.

Guidolin said: "I'm finished with the antibiotics, but it is better for me to relax for some days."

Both teams go into the fixture on the back of two successive wins and with ambitions to pull further clear of the relegation zone.

Bournemouth are currently on 35 points, 11 points above 18th place, while Swansea are two points worse off.

Team news

Other than Arter, Bournemouth will be without Junior Stanislas, who has not yet recovered from a hamstring injury, while Callum Wilson is still a month away from being fit.

Swansea will make a late decision on the fitness of Ki Sung-Yeung, who has an ankle problem and is the club's only current injury concern.

Opta stats

Swansea have won two of their past three league visits to Bournemouth but have won only three times on the road this season. However, two of those came in their past four away games, including one against Arsenal.

Bournemouth are looking to win back-to-back home games for the first time this season.

To achieve that, they will need to keep a close eye on Gylfi Sigurdsson, who has scored in six of his past 10 Premier League appearances.

At the other end of the pitch, the hosts should should look to capitalise on set pieces given that 43 per cent of the goals Swansea have conceded this season have been from dead-ball situations - a league high.

Another league-high is Bournemouth's average of 117.2km run per game this season, which Swansea must try to match if they are to continue their recent resurgence.

Merson's prediction

These two teams have had dream weeks, and whoever wins this game can get their flip-flops out. They are both probably safe now, but another win and they can go off to that Madonna song.

Swansea have gone really well recently, but Bournemouth should have enough at home to get the win. They have a go at the Vitality Stadium and Swansea have had to work very hard over the last few weeks to earn their results.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet, 8/1)

Betting

Bournemouth are marginally odds-on for the victory at 19/20 with Sky Bet, as Swansea are given a 3/1 chance while the draw is priced at 23/10. Both sides are considered all but safe from relegation at 80/1 and 20/1 respectively to face the drop, with the Cherries rated more likely to secure a top-half finish at 14/1.

Benik Afobe heads the first goalscorer betting at 5/1 with Bafetimbi Gomis the visitors' main threat (15/2) despite Gylfi Sigurdsson's record of breaking the deadlock in four of his last seven starts.

Bournemouth v Swansea is part of this weekend's Soccer Saturday Super 6 line-up. Enter your predictions for free here to be in with the chance of winning £250,000.