Andrew Whing admits he is "gutted" to be missing out on part of Albion's push for the play-offs.

But he is backing his team-mates to maintain their momentum without him.

Whing makes his last appearance at Huddersfield tomorrow before a two-match ban.

The right-back sits out Saturday's home game against Swindon and the trip to Nottingham Forest 48 hours later following his tenth caution of the campaign at the end of the 1-0 victory over Doncaster at Withdean.

Whing has been fighting a losing battle since his eighth booking at Yeovil at the end of December.

A yellow card at Carlisle earlier this month left him on the brink and a mistimed tackle in the closing moments against Rovers took him over the limit. Whing is now facing his fifth ban in 15 months following ten bookings for Albion and Coventry last season and a red card at Tranmere in August.

He said: "I'm gutted but it was always going to come. At least it is Saturday and Monday, so it's not drawn out and I will hopefully be back for the Leeds game.

"It was never in my mind. When I was booked on Saturday I didn't even think about it until after the game.

"The lads have been fantastic this season. Anyone who fills in will be more than capable of doing a job, so there is nothing to worry about.

"Obviously I am disappointed with two big games coming up but that's the way it goes. I am looking forward to tonight and then the Leeds game."

Whing's impending absence has given manager Dean Wilkins an extra problem after left-back Matt Richards limped off with a hamstring injury midway through the first half against Doncaster.

Whing said: "It's going to be disruptive because in the last couple of games we have looked solid at the back and conceded only one goal, from a set piece.

"It's very disappointing that me and Rico will both be out but I am sure the lads will do a fantastic job."

Whing escaped punishment when Albion were held 1-1 at home by Huddersfield in January, a spectacular free-kick by Robbie Williams cancelling out a Tommy Elphick header from a corner.

That came during a five-match run without a win for the Seagulls, including an embarrassing exit from the FA Cup against Mansfield, but they have taken 20 points from ten matches since then to move right back into contention.

A third win on the trot tonight will lift them back into a play-off spot for the first time since November and they will go fifth, above Southend on goal difference, if they prevail by two clear goals again at the Galpharm Stadium.

Nicky Forster and Glenn Murray will have to get past Whing's former Coventry colleague Rob Page first if they are to continue their goalscoring form.

"We have been playing catch-up for quite a while now, so it would be nice to win and finally get into the play-off places and then stay in there," Whing said.

"We've had two great results against teams in the top six (Walsall and Doncaster). It was a fantastic performance, as well as winning, on Saturday which gives us great belief that we are more than capable of finishing in the play-offs at the end of the season.

"Hopefully it puts us in good stead for tonight. Huddersfield had a bad result on Saturday (2-1 at home to Southend), so they will want to put that behind them.

"They have got a lot of experience, especially at the back, so it is going to be a really tough game for us. Pagey is a great centre-half with great experience so our strikers face a real test. Hopefully we can get the same result as we did there last season (3-0)."

That would be a real tonic for the run-in and, even though Whing will miss a quarter of it, he is predicting Albion's campaign will finish later than the third day of May with that coveted place in the play-offs.

"We have always believed we have got enough ability," he said. "It's just about confidence and stringing results together.

"We are doing that at the moment. The last two results and performances have given us belief right through the squad."