Alan Sheehan | It's a big test, but we have to be ready to rise to the challenge

Alan Sheehan wants Swansea City to embrace the underdog tag and rise to the challenge when they face Burnley at the Swansea.com Stadium this afternoon (3pm).

The Swans are looking to end a demanding run of games on a positive note, with the slender midweek defeat to Watford their only loss in the last four games.

They face a Burnley side firmly in the automatic promotion hunt, boasting a formidable defensive record and who have not tasted defeat in the league since November 3.

Given the gap between the sides in the table, Sheehan knows the visitors will start as favourites in SA1.

But the caretaker head coach has urged his side to meet the test head on as they seek a third home win in a row.

"It will be a test of course, and our biggest test yet in this run of games," he said.

"We have to be the best version of ourselves, which I feel like we have been for large parts of the last four games.

"You can win any game if you are perfect and I think you have to be perfect in every way against these teams  – tactically, physically, mentally – to compete against them, because they have quality individuals and a really strong defensive base.

"But we have to find a way to make us as competitive as possible.

"I am sure people view us as underdogs and would see it as an upset if we were to win, and I think that's fair if you look at the table.

"But we have to have the mentality to rise to the challenge because it's not a free hit."