SWANSEA old boy Keith Lowe is hungry to cause the first major cup shock of his 11-year-old career.

The York City defender returns to the Liberty Stadium for tonight’s Capital One Cup second round clash, having spent a month on loan with the Swans back in 2006.

Lowe has tackled two Premier League sides in the competition before, slugging it out for Burnley and Cheltenham respectively in narrow defeats to Aston Villa (1-0) and West Ham (2-1).

The likes of Kevin Phillips, Ricardo Vaz Te and Ravel Morrison proved the difference on those occasions with vital goals, but the two-time Press Player of the Year, who turns 30 next month, is now keen to turn the tables on the competition’s 2013 winners.

He said: “It would be great to get a giant-killing on my CV and you just have to go into these matches and enjoy them first of all. That’s when you get the best out of yourself and the team.

“You also have to work hard and, with the adrenaline bringing out the best in you, you never know what can happen.”

Lowe is unlikely to be pitted against in-form Premier League marksman Bafetimbi Gomis in South Wales with the home side expected to rotate their squad.

The City centre-back is a little disappointed that will not be the case, but added that he does not expect a much-changed team to make the visitors’ task any easier.

“You would rather play against the so-called big hitters and Gomis obviously stands out for them,” he pointed out. “I also like (Jonjo Shelvey but, really, you could reel them all off.

“They will still be established Premier League players even if it’s their reserves. I’m sure they are good enough to field two Premier League sides and it will be good to pit our wits against them.”

Lowe has fond memories of his South Wales stint, winning both home matches he featured in and returning to then parent club Wolves with two winners’ medals after playing alongside current manager Garry Monk in defence.

“We won the Football League Trophy and the Welsh Cup whilst I was there so it was a great month and the spell helped me develop as a young defender playing alongside players like Garry Monk and picking up his traits,” he explained. “It will be great to see him again because I’ve not bumped into him too many times in between.

“It’s a big game and one of those you really want to play in. It’s a beautiful stadium and the changing rooms are second to none, so it’s everything you would expect a Premier League club to be.”

Lowe went on to stress that he has not been surprised by the manner in which Monk has adapted to football management, guiding the club to eighth in the Premier League last term having taken the helm at the tender age of 34.

“He was our leader and captain when I was there and I definitely picked up a lot from him,” the former Kidderminster and Hereford defender explained. “Roberto Martinez was also a player when I was there and he was brilliant too.

“He was one of the lads who really looked after me and made sure everything was OK. The club put me up in a lovely flat and he came to pick me up for training a few times.”

Lowe joined Swansea two seasons after City had played their final Football League game at the club’s former Vetchfield Ground before being relegated to the Conference in 2004.

Midfielder Leon Britton, who is expected to line up against the Minstermen this evening, also played in that match against a visiting side featuring the likes of Robbie Haw, Adam Arthur, Kane Ashcroft and Lev Yalcin.

On the club and Britton’s subsequent meteoric rise to English football’s summit, Lowe said: “It was definitely a club on the up in League One when I was there.

“They had just moved into the Liberty Stadium and it doesn’t surprise me one bit what they’ve gone on to become because of the money that’s been put in and how the club has been managed from the chairman down. Leon Britton is also a great pro who deserves to be in the Premier League.

“His concentration and passing is second-to-none.”

Lowe is expecting the home fans, meanwhile, to get firmly behind their team tonight, revealing: “The support was brilliant.

“They took me under their wings and it’s quite an intimidating place for opposing teams to go. Their style of football also makes them very difficult to play against.”

The City defender also declared himself satisfied with his own club’s efforts last week that saw one deflected James Berrett goal earn the club four points from contests against Yeovil and Exeter.

“People say win your home games and draw your away matches, so we were happy to come out of a tough week having done just that,” he reasoned. “As a defender, you also want clean sheets and we accomplished that in both matches.”