Albion want to show their Super League credentials – after being given a little nudge towards promotion.

The Seagulls get a great chance to see how they might fare in the higher division as they face Oxford United in the FA Cup at Culver Road tomorrow (2pm).

Oxford are preparing for the new season in Super League 2, the division in which Albion aim to play next season.

They first must win Premier League south, a target which is now in their own hands after rivals Charton and Cardiff City drew 0-0 last Sunday.

That result means neither side can finish top if the Seagulls win their last four games.

The divisional winners then go into a play-off against the top side in the north section, where the title race is wide open between Preston, Nottingham Forest, Stoke City and Blackburn.

Albion still have a tricky run-in but now have leads of ten points over Cardiff and 11 points over Charlton, both of whom have three games in hand.

Coventry have four games in hand on the Seagulls but are 14 points behind.

All of which goes on the backburner when Oxford visit in the Cup.

But there is still the sub-plot of the Seagulls getting a glimpse of the level to which they aspire.

Boss James Marrs said: “It would have been nice to have got a lower league team and try to progress.

“But, if you want to go far, you have to beat the better teams.

“We will certainly be underdogs against a team from a higher division and that is how it should be.

“But it is a game in which we look to make a statement that we are ready to go into WSL.”

Albion have had two weeks off after their League Cup trip to Tottenham was postponed due to their hosts’ County Cup commitments.

But tomorrow’s opponents have been inactive for far longer having not played since October 18, when they lost 5-3 at Everton to round-off a mid-table campaign.

 

Oxford do not kick off their league season until March 24 but have already made signings ahead of their first competitive fixture of the year.

They include Jess Frampton from Albion’s league rivals Portsmouth and Aston Villa midfielder Lauren Haynes.

Meanwhile Albion wing-back Sophie Perry has been learning from the world’s best in front of a crowd of more than 23,000 in San Diego.

Perry played at right-back for the Republic of Ireland as they lost 5-0 in a friendly to the world champions USA.

The Albion player started at right-back in a back four and, like her team-mates, was given a torrid time.

World player of the year Carli Lloyd scored a hat-trick and Alex Morgan celebrated her 100th cap with a goal.