Guy Butters launches a bid to regain his first team place with Albion tonight after a rigorous programme of weight-shedding.

The former Gillingham centre half plays for the reserves against Swindon in the Avon Insurance Combination League at Worthing (7pm kick-off).

Manager Martin Hinshelwood axed his second signing for last week's Worthington Cup defeat at Ipswich.

Hinshelwood felt Butters, captured on a Bosman free transfer five weeks ago, needed to sharpen up after missing out on first team action this season at Gillingham.

Youngster Adam Virgo took Butters' place at Ipswich and kept it for the home defeat by fellow strugglers Grimsby, but the 32-year-old could be back in contention for Saturday's trip to Watford.

Hinshelwood said: "Guy is an honest pro and he realises he wasn't as fit as he should have been.

"He feels disappointed in himself that he let himself go a little bit because he was on the bench at Gillingham and then playing in the reserves. When it is like that you have got to work that little bit harder.

"He has played in six games for me. I know he can do a lot better and so does he.

"We just felt we needed to pull him out and he has been doing a mini pre-season again. He did that last week and he has lost weight.

"I think he has felt the benefit of it. We have been doing it again this week and he will play in the reserves with a view to perhaps coming back into the squad for Saturday.

"He needed some fitness under his belt because he wasn't doing himself or the team justice. He realised that himself, which is nice."

Fellow signing John Piercy also returns to action tonight. The former Spurs midfielder missed the Grimsby defeat with a leg injury sustained in his second outing for the Seagulls at Ipswich.

Paul Kitson has a further medical check today on the recurring back problem which has restricted the former West Ham front man to four appearances.

"He is seeing a specialist and we are hoping he is given the all-clear," Hinshelwood said. "Hopefully he will join in training again on Thursday and we will be looking for him to be involved at Nottingham Forest on October 12.

"If that is called off for international call-ups then we might try to arrange a game that weekend."

Albion Reserves: Packham; El-Abd, A. Hinshelwood, Butters, Harding, Lee, Melton, Rogers, Piercy, McPhee, Wilkinson. Subs: Bartholomew, Beck, Greatwich, Breach, Bryant.

Follow the Seagulls' trip to Watford this Saturday at thisisthealbion.co.uk