Albion are banking on the Withdean factor to boost their automatic promotion challenge.

The Seagulls have turned their unusual temporary home into a fortress and assistant Bob Booker believes it could be the key to securing one of the top two places.

Eleven of their remaining 18 fixtures are at Withdean, including the next four against teams in the top ten starting with tonight's showdown against Cardiff.

Albion have not lost at home in the League since Peter Taylor took charge and they have been beaten their only once in the last 13 months, by Brentford back in October.

Booker said: "Cardiff are a big club with big support and big resources, but they are coming down to Withdean where in the past weeks we have done okay. A lot of teams coming down must think why do Brighton like playing at Withdean? But I've got quite attached to the place and the players see it like that as well.

"Why not believe in your home pitch, home crowd and home facilities and get back to winning ways? That is what I want to see."

Albion, with Michel Kuipers back in goal, are forced into at least three outfield changes to the side which lost 4-0 at Brentford last Thursday.

Simon Morgan, Paul Watson and Gary Hart are serving one-match suspensions, so the likes of Robbie Pethick, Daniel Webb and Paul Brooker could be recalled to the starting line-up alongside the former Cardiff trio of Charlie Oatway, Richard Carpenter and Nathan Jones.

"The bans are a big blow to us," Booker said. "Missing three players of that quality is obviously going to hurt you a little bit, but we have got to get on with it. For the players that have been patient this is another chance to put their foot in the door.

"The top clubs keep changing. I went to Peterborough versus Stoke on Tuesday and Stoke were lucky to win. I saw Reading the other night as well and I still think we are in with a shout.

"Why shouldn't we be? We are third and we have got to keep on going. It's a great position to be in, I'd rather be up there than down at the bottom at this stage of the season."

A third win out of four tonight would lift Albion back above Stoke into second spot.

Meanwhile, an injury crisis at Leicester could jeopardise Taylor's long-standing plan to bring Junior Lewis in on loan for three months. Lewis is back in first team contention.

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