CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The first international exhibition in the Charlotte Independence’s history has brought a strong buzz around the city, as the club prepares to take on the Premier League’s Swansea City A.F.C. on Wednesday night at Ramblewood Stadium.

With only a handful of tickets remaining for the contest as of Tuesday evening, and a sellout expected, Independence Coach Mike Jeffries has been delighted with the manner in which the local soccer community has got behind the game.

“To have Swansea City coming in and the level of their play for the local fans to be able to see that and for us to compete against that is huge,” said Jeffries. “It’s something that the guys are looking forward to quite a bit and we as a staff are as well. Our whole group is excited because it’s not every day that they will get to compete with a group that’s playing in the Premier League, with guys that are at that level.”

• Match Center: Charlotte Independence vs. Swansea City A.F.C.

The Swans are making their third trip to the United States, but their first for a tour on the East coast. A member of the Premier League since 2011, Swansea will also visit the Independence’s USL rival the Richmond Kickers on Saturday night before returning home to continue preparations for the upcoming season.

The consistency Swansea has shown in remaining part of the Premier League over the past five seasons has won the club respect, with the remarkable story of the club’s progression from the fourth tier of English soccer to the top flight featured in the NBC Sports documentary “Jack to a King”.

“They are a team that’s proven themselves to be in an elite league in the world for quite some time now and it’s a great opportunity for guys here to test themselves against that kind of talent,” said Independence captain Bilal Duckett. “There are games where you kind of measure it and you remember it because of the occasion and there are games kind of like this one that you’re going to remember it because you’re playing against one of the top teams in the world.”

The Swans have seen changes this offseason away from the field, too, with a new group of investors that includes legendary U.S. international Landon Donovan taking over the club with the goal of taking the Swans to even greater heights.

On Wednesday, though, the Independence are hoping to put on a strong showing of their own in front of their supporters.

“To have an English Premier League team over here and for us to have the opportunity to test ourselves against them and see what we’re made of against a top side, it’s exciting,” said Independence midfielder and Liverpool native Jack Metcalf. “The whole club and the whole city is excited about it. We’re just going to go out and have fun. It’s an exhibition match but everybody knows it’s a big team, it’s a big opportunity as a club and individually to show what everybody’s made of and I think that’s what the whole city can get behind is seeing how good we are against a top side.”