Leo Ulloa has shrugged off double defeat by Derby and warned play-off rivals: “We can beat the best in the Championship.”

Albion host the third-placed Rams in the first leg of their semi-final tomorrow.

The Seagulls lost home and away to Derby in the regular league season.

But Ulloa is adamant that need not be a problem and cites results against other Championship high-flyers as proof.

The 16-goal striker said: “I think in general we have played really well against the teams up at the top.

“Leicester, Burnley, QPR, Reading – we have done well against all of them. That’s a good sign for the play-offs.

“We didn’t have good results with Derby but they were very close games. They have been up there all season and playing well but this is the play-offs with extra motivation.

“We will prepare the best we can and correct errors we made in those matches.”

Ulloa, who is believed to be interesting Leicester City, has made no secret of his ambition to help Albion into the top-flight and aims to take a big step towards that tomorrow.

He added: “More than anything I’d like to go up with Brighton and play in the Premier League, which is something everybody dreams about.”