Albion boss Martin Hinshelwood has urged his young front men to seize their opportunity in tonight's penultimate pre-season friendly at Cheltenham.

Daniel Marney, Shaun Wilkinson and Chris McPhee are vying to impress Hinshelwood ahead of the Seagulls' Division One opener at Burnley, now just 11 days away.

Marney and Wilkinson played a part in Saturday's goalless draw at Leyton Orient, while McPhee has recovered from a back strain.

Two of the three are expected to start at Whaddon Road, with Gary Hart rested and Bobby Zamora still recuperating from minor groin surgery.

Hinshelwood revealed: "We will probably play 4-3-3 again and it's a chance for the front players, who are all young, to show me they can cope at this level.

"Cheltenham were promoted to the Second Division last season and the pitch is nice there, so this is a great opportunity for them.

"I just want them to do the things they are capable of doing. In the second half at Orient we didn't hold the ball up well enough. They need to bring the midfield players in."

Hart is being eased back after breaking a leg at Peterborough in April. He was taken off in the second half at Orient following run-outs last week at Bognor and Gravesend and Northfleet.

Hinshelwood said: "We are leaving Gary out because he's had three games in a week. We are going to work a bit more on his fitness and I am looking at him having 90 minutes at Bournemouth on Saturday.

"The same goes for Bobby. He joined in training with us yesterday and he is also working with the physio Malcolm Stuart."

Influential midfielder Richard Carpenter hurt his neck at Orient and will not be risked in the starting line-up, which means a chance for another of Albion's young prospects Dean Hammond.

Will Packham, back from an ankle injury, is likely to share the goalkeeping duties with trialist Andy Petterson in the continuing absence of first choice Michel Kuipers (thigh).

Former Albion loan signing Steve Cotterill steered Cheltenham to the Second Division via the play-offs before leaving for Stoke.

Ex-Kidderminster chief Graham Allner is now in charge and his first signing, striker Paul Brayson from Cardiff, is expected to figure tonight.

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