A thrilling victory against Premiership opposition in the final pre-season friendly and the scene is set for the resumption of League hostilities on Saturday at Oldham.

It's probably just as well Albion visit Boundary Park in the middle of a heat wave because, as travelling Seagulls supporters will testify, there is a very good reason why Oldham's home ground is nicknamed Ice Station Zebra.

What will season 2003-04 bring for the Albion?

A much-used phrase in football is transitional season, which really means mid-table mediocrity.

The last thing the Albion need, with the outcome of the Falmer Inquiry on the horizon, is a season like that because empty green plastic seats will play into the hands of the anti-stadium brigade.

I believe a positive result for the inquiry will encourage a lot of new investment in the club. No businessman worth his salt is going to put money into an Albion side playing at Withdean but the prospect of a 20,000 all-seater stadium is, excuse the pun, a whole new ball game.

Even without the departed Bobby Zamora and Paul Brooker (and the long-term injury to Dean Blackwell is a worry), Steve Coppell has assembled a squad that should be contention for at least a play-off place.

At this time last season, you will recall, I stuck my neck out and said Albion would finish with at least six teams below in Division One.

Injuries and luck played a big part in our demise but the bottom line is, I got it wrong, a fact that I am still reminded about today This year, however, with a settled, injury-free squad, the prospect of Leon Knight signing permanently and the emergence of talented home-grown youngsters, I think a top six finish and play-off qualification has to be the target.

A lot of expectation surrounds loan signing Knight but it would be unfair, at this early stage, to even think about drawing comparisons with him and former goal-scoring greats like Peter Ward and Zamora.

The likes of Wardy and Bobby only come along once in a generation so it would be an amazing stroke of good fortune if Albion instantly replaced one legend with another.

This is the make or break season for the likes Daniel Marney, Shaun Wilkinson and Chris McPhee.

All three players need to make an impact and look for an extended run in the first team.

Otherwise, if Albion do mount a successful promotion challenge and they don't play a part, what chance will they have of competing for a place in the starting line-up in Division One?

Also, bear in mind there will be another crop of hungry youngsters coming through from Dean Wilkins' all-conquering under-19 team to add more competition for places.

Whatever happens over the next 46 games, I doubt even the biggest pessimist would predict successive last-day relegations.

Meanwhile, Albion fans have the chance to question chairman Dick Knight, manager Steve Coppell and chief executive Martin Perry at a live Southern Counties Radio forum at the Coral's Greyhound Stadium, Hove (7.00pm) tonight.