Albion are set for a Saturday night FA Cup showdown at Old Trafford – and the first batch of their 5,500 tickets is on sale NOW.

The Seagulls’ quarter-final with Manchester United has been scheduled for Saturday, March 17 (7.45pm) and will be shown live on BT Sport.

Online sales opened at 10am today for those top of their priority list.

Adult tickets are priced at £45 but, in what represents something of a coup, the club have negotiated discounts with United for season-ticket holders and members in line with those enjoyed by home fans.

Season-ticket holders will therefore pay £37 and bronze members £40.

Those aged 18 to 20 pay £35.75, reduced to £25.75 for season-ticket holders and £30.75 for bronze members.

For those aged 16-17 or 65-plus, full price is £26.50 reduced to £18.50 for season-ticket holders and £21.50 for bronze members.

The under-16s price is £18, reduced to £10 for season-ticket holders and £13 for Young Seagulls.

Booking fees apply (£1 per ticket online, £1.50 per ticket for personal callers or telephone sales) and tickets carry 15 loyalty points.

Season-ticket holders with 250 points can buy online from 10am today and by phone or in person from 2pm.

Those with 200 points can buy from Monday (9am online, 2pm by phone or in person).

The process opens up to all season-ticket holders on Tuesday (9am online, 2pm by phone or in person).

Bronze members and Young Seagulls with 50 points or more can get involved from Thursday, subject to availability.

Online sales are via seagullstickets.com while the booking line can be called on 0844 327 1901.

Tickets are being sold on a basis of one per person.

Albion were also offered allocations of 3,000 and 8,500 but, after careful consideration, went for the middle option of 5,500.

They will have based their decision on the kick-off time, lack of trains home that night, the cost of tickets, live television coverage and the fact they have to pay for tickets they take but do not sell.

Countering that were factors such as the desire for a large backing at Old Trafford, the fact it is the club’s first quarter-final for 32 years and an appreciation that many fans missed out on tickets for the league trip in November.