ROBERTO Di Matteo is hoping Gianni Zuiverloon's short spell away from the first team spotlight will have the right-back firing on all cylinders again.
The former Dutch Under-21 international could be in line for a recall at Swansea tonight (ko 7.45pm) after on-loan Steven Reid was ruled out with a groin problem.
Zuiverloon hasn't figured since his late error in the FA Cup defeat against Reading five games ago.
Di Matteo admits the 23-year-old's confidence had plummeted but is hoping his mini stint on the sidelines has helped him recharge both mentally and physically.
"Yes, Gianni's in contention for tonight," said the head coach.
"I haven't made my mind up yet but there is a possibility for Gianni to be back in the team.
"He wasn't going through a good patch of form and it was affecting the team a little bit as well, so that's why I left him out for a short while.
"Usually, a little break helps with some training.
"You can pick yourself up and we've also spoken to him.
"We'll see how he goes."
Swansea impressed during their 1-0 Hawthorns raid in October.
And Di Matteo is bracing his troops for one of their toughest assignments of the season.
The Swans may be the division's lowest scorers, having netted only 31 times in 36 games.
But the fourth-placed club boast the Coca-Cola Championship's meanest defence and have conceded only nine goals in 18 games at the Liberty Stadium.
Those stats have not been lost on Di Matteo.
"For me, Swansea are a very defensive team," he added.
"They are more concerned about not conceding a goal than they are about scoring a goal.
"That's going to make it very hard for us because they don't concede many.
"Even at home, they are not that adventurous.
"We will have to be focussed and very sharp.
"But we have our own philosophies and will try to impose ourselves on the game."
Di Matteo claims that if Albion were to win in South Wales tonight, it would severely damage Swansea's top-two hopes.
The second-placed Baggies will open up a 12-point gap on City if they become only the third team to win at the Liberty Stadium this term.
"It will be very difficult for them if we manage to win tonight," claimed Di Matteo.
