Retired John Piercy reckons Albion can cause an FA Cup upset against Tottenham in the clash between his two old clubs.

He believes his former Seagulls team-mates can catch the Premiership giants off guard in Saturday's third round tussle at White Hart Lane.

Piercy, whose career began at Spurs and ended with Albion two months ago because of illness, admitted: "On paper it looks a one-horse race, but Spurs will probably play a couple of fringe players and I don't know if Jermain Defoe will have played against anyone like Charlie Oatway before!

"It is set up for Charlie and Chippy (Richard Carpenter) to have a right battle in midfield and I think it is the sort of game Leon Knight will relish as well. He might get a bit more time on the ball.

"I wonder if they can nick a result. I don't think it is clear-cut and Spurs won't wallop us. I know what the guys at Brighton are like and Spurs might not be up for it as much as them."

Utility player Piercy enjoyed happy times at both clubs, but a shock Albion victory is the result he really wants.

He said: "Spurs gave me my chance as a kid, but I am a local boy first and foremost.

"I was only six months old when we moved down from London to Eastbourne. Brighton have always been my local side, so I definitely want them to win.

"All my playing mates at Spurs, like Tim Sherwood, have left now anyway, apart from Simon Davies."

Piercy, 25, made eight Premiership appearances in four full seasons with Spurs under George Graham and Glenn Hoddle before joining Albion on a free transfer.

"I had some really good times there," he said. "It is difficult to break into a Premiership side, but I managed to do that and I was in and around the first team for a couple of years. As a life experience it was very good as well."

Piercy has been taking it easy since colitis forced him to hang up his boots after relegation, promotion and 30 League outings with Albion.

"I still get good days and bad days," he revealed. "I feel a little bit stronger and I can sleep a little bit longer now, but it will be a few more months before I get a positive response.

"I've just switched off fitness wise and had a complete rest, but I am quite looking forward to getting back on a treadmill now and doing some weights.

"Boredom sets in after you have been used to training all your life and I want to keep myself fit anyway. I don't want to end up weighing 16 stone."

Piercy discovered Albion had drawn Spurs in a text message from his best friend, a Seagulls supporter.

"I just laughed to myself," he said. "It's a bit ironic and it would have been nice to be involved, but it's not something I am going to get upset about.

"I have still got some good friends at both clubs and I might even go to the game.

"I know I made the right decision to retire, so that is not a problem, but it has been hard. As well as the football it's the banter day in and day out with the boys that you really miss."

Meanwhile, Andy Crosby is delighted Albion have a plumb FA Cup draw at Premiership Tottenham.

But the former Seagulls centre-back believes his current employers, Scunthorpe United, have landed themselves an even bigger test when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the same afternoon.

The Scunthorpe captain, who left Brighton for Oxford three years ago, said: "There are a lot of the lads at Albion who were there when I was like Charlie Oatway, Richard Carpenter and Michel Kuipers.

"They have done the club proud and they deserve a good draw that will also boost the club's finances.

"But Chelsea should be a more difficult game than Spurs. They are the in-form team at the moment. They are so consistent. I have got no idea who I'll be up against because they will have about four or five strikers to choose from and they are as good as each other."

Crosby, 31, revealed he can call on some personal experience against big guns.

He said: "I played against Arsenal two seasons ago in the same round for Oxford. I was up against Dennis Bergkamp and he was on a different level to me.

"They beat us 2-0 but it could have been 20-0. We'll be giving it our best shot and see where that gets us. But Chelsea have so many advantages, I don't believe they need the one of playing at home as well.

"The tie will be great for Scunthorpe's finances."