Nobody knows more about tense endings to the season than Richard Carpenter.

If you want somebody in your ranks accustomed to joy and pain at the climax of the campaign then Albion's experienced central midfielder is your man.

Carpenter has been involved in promotion, the play-offs or relegation in each of the last nine seasons with the Seagulls, Cardiff, Fulham and Gillingham.

The last thing the 32-year-old powerhouse from Kent wants now is to experience that sinking feeling for the third time.

Even before that incredible sequence, Carpenter discovered at the outset of his career what it is like to be embroiled in a fight for survival.

"When I was at Gillingham we played Halifax at home in our last game of the season and whoever lost went out of the League," he said.

"We won 2-0. That was a nerve-racking situation but we managed to come through it. You just want a normal season at times!"

Carpenter's strong nerve will be invaluable to Albion against Rotherham at Millmoor tomorrow.

"You have just got to treat it as you would any other game," he said. "Probably from outside people would think, how can you say that? But from a professional point of view that is what we have to do.

"It's a tidy, tight little ground and there will be a good atmosphere. Hopefully we can get the right result."

Even if that happens, Carpenter suspects there will still be something riding on Albion's last match against promotion-chasing Ipswich at Withdean on Sunday week.

"We'd like to get the right result tomorrow, which would take the pressure off us, but it is going to go right down to the wire," he said.

"We would have accepted this at the start of the season. At one stage we were doing well, but injuries and suspensions take their toll on a small squad.

"That is the nature of the game we are in at this club. We have just got to get on with it and do our best."

Rotherham's midfield will include a player with the same surname as the Manchester United captain and the same feisty character.

Albion fans have never forgiven Michael Keane for his inflammatory role in the Seagulls' relegation at Grimsby on the last day two seasons ago.

The Irishman, on loan to Grimsby from Preston, opened the scoring from the penalty spot, then goaded the travelling supporters after setting up Richard Hughes' equaliser in the 2-2 draw.

Rotherham may already be down and out, but former Albion manager Peter Taylor has pinpointed Keane as a big danger to their survival hopes.

The 22-year-old Dubliner scored five goals in 25 games for Taylor's promoted Hull team earlier this season.

They fell out after Keane was sent-off and fined for head-butting an opponent in a reserve game and he moved to Rotherham on a free transfer last month following a spell on loan.

"The problem Brighton have is that Mick Harford is a new manager there and he will be looking to sort a few out for next year," Taylor said.

"I'm a Mick Harford fan and I think he is going to be a good manager. He will be making sure they don't chuck it away.

"Michael Keane will be in that boat. He will be out to impress the new manager.

"It didn't work out for him at our place. I couldn't guarantee him a start but he has got fantastic ability.

"He needs watching because he is a very talented footballer around the final third. He's a little pocket battleship with a tremendous left foot.

"When I was looking at signing him I saw him as a left-footed Andy Hessenthaler and supporters like him. Ours always did. He is the type of player crowds respond to."