Albion's hopes of promotion rivals Middlesbrough’s noses being put out of joint have been hit by an injury to their former No.1.

The Seagulls can sniff the Premier League but would be helped by a favour from Birmingham at St Andrew’s tonight.

If Boro draw or lose then a point in their final day clash in the North-East would be enough for Chris Hughton’s side, providing they beat Derby at the Amex on Monday.

Birmingham keeper Tomasz Kuszczak is expected to miss out for ninth-placed Birmingham with a broken nose sustained near the end of last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Birmingham.

Manager Gary Rowett has described the Pole, Albion’s goalkeeper when they reached the play-offs in 2012-13 and 2013-14, as a “major doubt”.

Ex-Albion winger Will Buckley could play a part for Birmingham as Boro sweat on the fitness of left-back George Friend.

Hughton, who guided Birmingham to the play-offs four years ago, accepts Albion are the outsiders in the three-way race for a top two finish with Boro and leaders Burnley but hopes the momentum of five straight wins will help carry them through.

He said: “Certainly on paper we’ve got the two toughest games. We are up against a team on Monday that were everybody’s favourites to go up automatically. I know they drew on Saturday (1-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday) but they are on a good run at the moment and are also a team that can score goals.

“I hope the momentum is a good thing but we’ll certainly be tested.

“It is so finely poised. I don’t even think it will be the team that holds its nerve because we all know what it means.

“It’s the team that gets a bit of luck, shows that bit of quality, finds a way of winning.”

Albion are 4-5 with Championship sponsors Sky Bet to be promoted automatically or through the play-offs. Burnley are hot 1-16 favourites and Middlesbrough 1-5.