Like a pair of Adidas Gazelle, Swansea always look snazzy and never really go out of fashion - but would you suddenly pay £60 for a pair when you saw them on offer at £40 in the same shop barely a fortnight ago?

The Jacks are back in the limelight and trading at a premium following a five-match unbeaten sequence but they're still the same team they've always been under three different managers: slick and pleasing to watch, but occasionally lacking the cutting edge of champions.

It would be easier to understand the sudden clamour for them at the Liberty Stadium where they've picked up 17 points from a possible 21 with six clean sheets, but we can't accept them as 2.25 shots for the trip to Crystal Palace when they've lost four out of six on the road. 

Hull, Norwich, Leeds and Nottingham Forest have all posted fairly routine wins over the Welsh outfit before the bar was raised when the boss had a couple of old scores to settle.

It seems to many the tide has turned for the Swans with away victories at Watford and Reading but we're more than a little suspicious by the sudden hike in performance given boss Brendan Rodgers was returning to a former stomping ground for the first time on both occasions. 

That's not to suggest Rodgers delivered an impassioned plea in the dressing room before kick-off at either ground but everyone was well aware of the history and players tend to have an instinct for knowing when the next 90 minutes is no ordinary game for the gaffer.

It's only natural they up their game in such scenarios and it would come as no great shock if Swansea struggle to hit those same heights in south London. Obviously, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating but we reckon Palace look a tasty wager at 3.20.

The Eagles have endured a tough campaign to date but they've repeatedly proven themselves to be a decent match for the bigger sides in the division judging by their recent displays against Cardiff, QPR, Norwich, Portsmouth and Burnley.

George Burley's men have been three goals better than the opposition over the course of those five matches and they were minus Darren Ambrose in all of those encounters with their talisman fancied to return this weekend after coming through a midweek reserve match unscathed.

There's a lot to negotiate with any trip to Selhurst Park without the added pressure of being hot favourites and this could prove to be a real hiding to nothing for the Swans.

Meanwhile, the bookies also seem to be under the impression that Reading have banished all of their demons with one resounding 4-0 win at Burnley and they deserve to be taken for the visit of Doncaster.

Admittedly, Brian McDermott's men were excellent in denying us what we considered to be a routine payout at Turf Moor but it should be said that it was one of those glorious days when everything went in their favour from the first whistle.

The gift of an early lead from the penalty spot can usually be taken as an indication it's going to be your day and culprit Leon Cort continued to be the architect of Burnley's downfall when he was given his marching orders for a second rash tackle early in the second half.

There's no doubt the Royals would be title contenders if they came up against such naivety in the opposition ranks every week but fate isn't kind with such consistency and it's a lesson the Berkshire club could learn the hard way when Donny roll into town.

Sean O'Driscoll's men have made the transition from makeweights into middleweights now. The air of naivety that troubled them in their early days at this level is notable by its absence nowadays and they're a settled side that knows what must be done to get results.

Personally, we rate the two sides as more or less equal but you could balance the scales five or ten points in Reading's favour over the course of a season and still not come up with a 4.50 quote on the away win in a head to head at the Madejski.

Rovers' away record doesn't look too clever at this early stage with only seven points on the board from six matches but remove the heavy defeats at QPR and Cardiff and you suddenly see the same picture in a different light.

PICKS:
Crystal Palace to beat Swansea at 3.20 at Bet365.
Doncaster to beat Reading at 4.50 at Bet365.