Leon Knight vowed today that injury-hit Albion can match the once-mighty Leeds United.

The Yorkshire giants arrive at Withdean tomorrow, four years after entertaining Barcleona on their way to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

They had just lost to Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premiership and included the likes of Paul Robinson, Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and Jonathan Woodgate in their side before a self-inflicted cash crisis forced them to sell their best players.

Albion were in the bottom rung of English football, winning at home to Plymouth, but a repeat tomorrow will move Mark McGhee's team above Leeds in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Knight, who scored his second goal of the season in Tuesday's 1-1 home draw against Cardiff, said: "We can match anyone. Leeds are a big club but they haven't got the big names they had four years ago.

"I think we can match them man for man all over the park. We've just got to make sure they come here and don't get anything."

Goalkeeper Michel Kuipers believes Albion have earned the respect of more illustrious rivals after wins already this season against clubs such as Leicester and Nottingham Forest.

The in-form Dutchman, seeking his first clean sheet at home, said: "I think teams come down here and prepare themselves for a hard game. They know we have done really well here over the last few years and they don't under-estimate us any more."

Richard Carpenter replaces Alexis Nicolas (ankle) in midfield and Adam El-Abd returns at rightback for Paul Reid (foot).