Ten games to go and Albion have the toughest run-in in the Premier League.

That was what the statisticians told us during the current break in fixtures.

Opta have rated all the run-ins and come up with a difficulty factor.

Albion’s “opponent average rating” came out at 89.9, which means nothing until you have something which it can be related.

Well, it was the highest number and put them top of the list.

Aston Villa were given the next highest difficulty rating at 89.7.

That might have changed slightly now they have got West Ham (away) out of the way.

Brentford had easiest run-in with a figure of 85.2.

Good for the Bees. But what we are really interested in is the six-team ‘mini-league’ in which Albion appear to find themselves in the race for a European place.

West Ham’s run-in was seen as the closest to Albion’s in terms of difficulty with a rating of 89.3 and their 1-1 draw with Villa stopped them opening a gap.

Wolves’ figure is 88.2. Fulham are now part of this conversation after impressive recent results, including 3-0 home wins over Albion and Tottenham and their “opponent average rating” comes next at 87.7.

Chelsea and Newcastle are viewed as having the two easiest run-ins, apart from Brentford, at 86.1 and 85.5 respectively.

The formbook and football logic suggest Easter might be the weekend when Chelsea overhaul Albion in the overall standings.

Burnley go to Stamford Bridge next Saturday and Albion are at Liverpool the following afternoon.

The fixtures shown by Opta in bright red and, therefore, the most difficult for Roberto De Zerbi’s men are those against the three current title-chasers.

Those in the lightest pink are Burnley and Bournemouth, both away.

But one’s mind goes back to this time last year.

In what shades would Manchester United and City at home and Arsenal away have been shown on such a graphic?

Or how would Everton at home have been viewed?

There is a theory that Albion prefer playing the top sides. That it suits them more.

What DOES suit them better is having time to prepare for a game.

Their record in matches where they have had six days or more to get ready reads seven wins and two draws from 12 fixtures.

Defeats in that time came at the Etihad and from matches in which they did enough to get at least a point - West Ham at home, Tottenham away.

We don’t know exactly how the programme will pan out between now and May 19 given there are two games to re-arrange.

But there WILL be time between fixtures.

Speaking after the home win over Roma, De Zerbi said: “We are going to play ten games. Maybe only in two weeks we will play three games.

“We will play one game per week, we can prepare our best every game.

“I hope we can play with Joao Pedro and James Milner because (Solly) March, Jack Hinshelwood and (Kaoru) Mitoma can’t play until the end of the season.”

As was the case last season, re-arrangement of the Manchester City game will be affected by their European commitments.

At least two, very possibly four, midweeks will be taken out of the equation by City’s endeavours in the Champions League.

Twice since coming up, Albion have faced Pep Guardiola’s side in the final midweek of the season.

In terms of the ‘mini-league’, West Ham have Europa League fixtures.

Their two legs against Bayer Leverkusen come either side of a potential European qualification six-pointer at home to Fulham.

Of course the goalposts can be shifted by how the co-efficients work out (it is looking like five Champions League places for the Prem after the Hammers beat Freiburg).

By who wins the FA Cup, by what West Ham and Villa do in Europe.

But we know Albion will be in Europe again if they win their ‘mini-league’.

And that race could well intersect with both the actual Premier League title race and the survival battle come the afternoon of May 19.

The Seagulls end the season at home to a Manchester United side who might or might not have a lot to play for in terms of European qualification.

Or who might or might not be one week away from an FA Cup final.

But look at the other last-day fixtures.

Wolves will be the visitors for Jurgen Klopp’s final game at Anfield - potentially the day he aims to bow out with the title but certainly the day he looks to say farewell with a win.

West Ham’s last game is at Manchester City, who might also be in the title shoot-out.

If the relegation race goes the distance, it is worth bearing in mind Fulham’s final-day fixture is at Luton Town.

Will Brentford be involved? They finish the season at home to Newcastle.

Chelsea’s penultimate game is at Nottingham Forest.

Albion’s last three scheduled fixtures look tough - Aston Villa at home, Newcastle away, Manchester United at home - even without City being added.

Chelsea face Burnley and Sheffield United in the coming weeks but still have to go to the Emirates and Villa Park.

Albion still have to play five of the current top six, including the three title-chasers.

Newcastle have Sheffield United and Burnley in their last four games.

They also have a home date with Everton forthcoming and are the only side in our ‘mini-league’ who do not have to play any of the current top four.

So advantage Toon in that respect.

But they are tenth in the current form table (last six games).

For a side who are said to have lost their way, gone off the boil, been distracted by Europa ventures, all that stuff, Albion are sitting quite nicely in seventh place on current form.

Fulham are fourth, Wolves sixth, Chelsea 12th and West Ham 13th.

For Albion, it is about themselves. Not the opponents. About what is to come.

Joao Pedro will be key in giving that unpredictable edge to their attacking play.

Whether they use a European place as a target or try not to get too caught up on that is down what the squad believe in-house.

Opta reckon it is a tough ask for Albion to stay where they.

That their fixture list is the toughest facing any Premier League team.

Our own optics might be that they have done it before, they can do it again.

West Ham: Newcastle (a), Tottenham (h), Wolves (a), Fulham (h), Crystal Palace (a), Liverpool (h), Chelsea (a), Luton (h), Man City (a).

Albion: Liverpool (a), Brentford (a), Arsenal (h), Burnley (a), Bournemouth (a), Aston Villa (h), Newcastle (a), Man United (h). TBA Man City (h), Chelsea (h).

Wolves: Aston Villa (a), Burnley (a), West Ham (h), Nottingham Forest (a), Arsenal (h), Luton (h), Man City (a), Crystal Palace (h), Liverpool (a).

Newcastle: West Ham (h), Everton (h), Fulham (a), Tottenham (h), Sheffield Utd (h), Burnley (a), Albion (h), Brentford (a). TBA Crystal Palace (a), Man United (a).

Chelsea: Burnley (h), Man United (h), Sheffield Utd (a), Everton (h), Aston Villa (a), West Ham (h), Nottingham Forest (a), Bournemouth (h). TBA Arsenal (a), Tottenham (h), Albion (a).

Fulham: Sheffield Utd (a), Nottingham Forest (a), Newcastle (h), West Ham (a), Liverpool (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brentford (a), Manchester City (h), Luton (a).