Andrew Whing did not know whether to laugh or cry when Albion were drawn away to West Ham in the FA Cup.

Whing's delight for his temporary team-mates is tinged with disappointment, because he is likely to miss out on the Seagulls' big day at Upton Park.

Coventry prevented the on-loan rightback from playing in the first and second round victories over Northwich Victoria and Stafford Rangers, as they did not want him Cup-tied.

The situation could change by January if Albion can persuade former boss Micky Adams to let Whing stay for the rest of the season or sign him permanently.

Whing admitted: "I was watching the draw and I didn't know what I wanted to happen. It's a great draw for Brighton and I'm really pleased for them.

"Who knows? We'll see. It's one to look forward to if they let me play. At the moment I'm thinking I'm not going to play. I don't want to build my hopes up."

One thing is certain, Whing will be back in the team tonight against Swansea at Withdean.

He could not have played against Stafford on Saturday anyway, since he was suspended for accumulating five bookings, the last of them somewhat conveniently in the closing stages at Doncaster seven days earlier.

Whing was reduced instead to the role of admiring watcher, Kerry Mayo switching to the rightback slot for the first time in his long career in Albion's comfortable passage through to the third round.

Professional "Kerry is a good player," Whing said of his flame-haired accomplice.

"Good players can play in different positions.

"It was a professional performance.

It is difficult playing lower league teams but the lads did a great job and in the end it could have been a few more."

Mayo, 29, will be the oldest player in Albion's expected starting line-up tonight by some distance, with Guy Butters still sidelined from the centre of defence by a calf injury. The rest are 23 or under, including eight youth team products.

"I seem to have been around for ages but I'm only 22," said Brummie Whing, who arrived on the south coast in October with plenty of Championship appearances behind him at Coventry. "I am one of the more experienced ones but I'm still learning."

Whing was hoping to be facing his close friend Marcos Paynter, who is on loan to Swansea from Birmingham.

That particular clash has been wrecked by an ankle injury for Paynter, a loan target for Albion earlier in the season, but Whing is anticipating a tough night's work against the Welshmen.

"They are a really good team," he said. "They were very unlucky not to go up last year and they've got some really good players.

"But I think it's about what we do. We are a good team as well and there is no reason why we cannot win."

Curiously, considering their recent good form, Albion have not won at Withdean in League One since Leyton Orient were sent packing 4-1 in mid-September. Whing is at a loss to explain why the Seagulls have taken only one point from four games at home since then.

"It's just one of those things," he said. "As soon as we get a League win at home everyone will stop talking about it.

"It's a bit disappointing. We've beaten teams in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at home, so I can't believe that we don't do it in the League.

"We've got two big games, tonight and on Saturday at home (against Cheltenham), and we are looking for as many points as possible out of those."

Swansea's visit marks the end of Whing's second month on loan but manager Dean Wilkins has already persuaded Adams to let him stay for a third month through to January 1.

"I'm delighted," he said.

"I'm enjoying it down here and the lads are brilliant. The results are clicking together and it's going really well.

"I think I am getting better with every game I am playing now that I am getting a run in the team. Thankfully Brighton have given me that opportunity."

Whether he will still have that opportunity at Upton Park in the New Year remains to be seen.