Former Albion assistant Alan Cork has spent millions assembling his squad at Cardiff.

But there is one trait no amount of money can buy, according to the table-topping Seagulls' ex-Cardiff midfielder Richard Carpenter.

He believes an insatiable team spirit will bridge the financial gap in Saturday's showdown at Ninian Park.

Cardiff's spending power has put Cork under intense pressure to deliver back-to-back promotions.

Owner Sam Hammam has splashed out £10 million in the last year on buying the Welsh giants and improving the playing staff and ground.

He regards Cork like a son following their time together at Wimbledon, but Hammam is expecting a return on his huge investment and Carpenter reckons Albion can turn that weight of expectation to their advantage.

"Spending so much brings its own pressures," he said. "If you buy players for £1.8 million in the Second Division it doesn't automatically mean you are going to be successful.

"The one thing they probably haven't got at the moment is a good team spirit. That's what we have had from the start.

"If you look at what the gaffer has spent here this season it's team spirit which we get by on.

"We are top of the League and we have just got to keep working at it and grinding out results."

You only have to turn the clock back to last Saturday for vindication of Carpenter's view.

Peter Thorne, a recent club record £1.8 million buy from Stoke, headed Cardiff into an early lead against Huddersfield. But they lost 2-1, their first home defeat for 28 games.

"It will be a big crowd and they will be up for the game after that," Carpenter said.

"We've just got to get about them early doors, see if we can quieten the crowd and turn them around onto their players."

Carpenter, 29 on Sunday, knows all about the passion of the Welsh fans.

The Kent-born powerhouse played 75 games in two fluctuating seasons for Cardiff before Micky Adams snapped him up for Albion on a Bosman free transfer.

"I had two good years there under Frank Burrows and Billy Ayre," Carpenter said. "The first year went well for us and we won promotion.

"The second year wasn't so good and we were relegated right at the death. We had the nucleus of a good team, but injuries in the wrong places didn't help us.

"Overall it is a good and a big club. The last time I went back there myself and Charlie (Oatway) got a good response from their fans, so I am looking forward to going back."

Cardiff launched Oatway's professional career after signing him from non-League Yeading.

Albion's combative midfielder retains an affinity for the Welshmen, because of the way they stood by him when he had a spell in prison.

"I spent four months in Pentonville as a result of sticking up for one of my friends back in London who was attacked because of his colour," Oatway explained.

"Cardiff, expecially the chairman Rick Wright, stumped up a lot of money for an appeal on my behalf and I owe them an awful lot.

"They stuck by me throughout that time and then gave me red carpet treatment when I came out."

Albion have got out of jail a few times with late goals and Carpenter is cautious about adding promotion from the Second Division to his amazing quartet of promotions from the Third with the Seagulls, Cardiff, Fulham and Gillingham.

"Nobody thought we would be at the top, so we have got to enjoy it and make the most of it," he said. "To be realistic the players didn't think we would be and I certainly didn't. That's not being disrespectful to us as a team. I just thought if we could start reasonably well and be mid-table we could then build on that and look at edging into the top ten, with a chance of a play-off spot.

"That is realistically what we have got to do. It's early days yet, a month and a half down the line.

"There is a long way to go. We have just got to keep our feet on the floor and do what we are good at, which is sticking together."