CRAIG Beattie could achieve a rare feat this season — by playing for two teams who win promotion to the Premier League.

The club Beattie started the season with, West Bromwich Albion, visit Swansea City tonight in a game which looks like proving crucial to the home side's top-two hopes.

Whatever happens, the Scot stresses, Paulo Sousa's players will not let their heads go down, because even a defeat would leave Swansea on course for the top six.

And that is impressive for a side who, as Beattie knows from first-hand experience, are competing against clubs with considerably bigger budgets.

£11 million

"I remember the first year I went to West Brom, they spent £11 million and they were a Championship side," he says.

"As far as clubs in this division go, they are one of the biggest and they have got money to spend because they have been going between the Premier League and the Championship for a while.

"I think it's a credit to the Swansea players' attitude, ability and belief that we are up there competing with a club like West Brom.

"Obviously we are not as big a club spending-wise, but ability-wise I don't think there's much in it."

Frustrating

There are, though, nine points between the teams after Swansea played out a frustrating goalless draw with Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.

The general feeling at the Liberty is that Sousa's men need a maximum this evening if they are to keep their hopes of overhauling the Baggies alive.

"To be honest, I don't really know what the different clubs' run-ins are like," Beattie adds.

"We will not be down if we don't win because there is still a lot to play for, but a victory would inspire confidence.

"Just getting to the play-offs would be a great achievement for us — that's something we quietly targeted at the start of the season — and for now that's all we're concentrating on.

"With West Brom it's different.

"They are looking for the top two. That was their target from the start and at the moment they are in a good position, but Nottingham Forest are no mugs."

Newcastle are looking very good for one of the automatic promotion slots, and Forest are the side most likely to oust West Brom as things stand.

Success for Swansea this evening would keep them believing and, despite his nod to Forest, Beattie believes his former side and his present one could meet again at the next level next season.

"It looks like Newcastle will finish in the top two, but there are still two spots up for grabs," he says.

"The play-offs are a bit of a lottery, but I don't see why both teams can't get promoted."

Swansea may be forced to accept that they will have to do it the hard way if they cannot win this evening.

But for all Albion's quality — the kind which time in the Premier League brings — Sousa's men have already beaten them once this season.

As so often happens, Beattie proved the match-winner on his old stamping ground, drilling home the only goal at The Hawthorns back in October.

"I was not too hung up on the fact that it was against my old club," he insists.

"It was just good to get a goal and good to get a win.

"I have got a few mates there still and I am sure there will be banter flying about tonight depending on how the game goes.

"I gave some out when we won up there, so they will be looking to give it back."

Beattie expects West Brom to differ from Wednesday in that they will arrive looking for three points rather than just one.

Examination

Yet the former Celtic forward, who cost £1.25 million when he moved to the West Midlands in 2007, believes Roberto Di Matteo's players will be expecting a serious examination.

"Teams like Sheffield Wednesday are coming here and are delighted to get a point," Beattie says.

"Maybe at the start of the season people would have looked at their fixtures and thought 'Right, we are down at Swansea on Saturday — we will win that one and then move on'.

"But that's not the case any more. That's a credit to what the staff and players here have done."

As hungry as he will be to give his ex-employers another jab in the eye, Beattie may have to wait for his chance.

Substituted

The 26-year-old was substituted at half-time on Saturday and is likely to begin on the bench this time around if Shefki Kuqi's ankle is strong enough for him to start.

Beattie's first few months as a Swan have featured some encouraging performances, but fitness problems have denied him the chance to make a sustained impact.

"I have had a broken toe, a twisted knee and a bad case of flu," he grumbles.

"I was disappointed to come off against Sheffield Wednesday, but these things happen and I'm just glad to be back fit.

"Hopefully it will stay that way and I can help the team with a couple of goals between now and the end of the season."