Chris Hughton faces an unfamiliar problem in the play-offs.

Putting together an Albion side that can cope without the suspended Dale Stephens.

It is a situation Hughton has encountered only once all season.

That was in October, when Stephens missed the 0-0 draw against Preston at the Amex.

It was double trouble for Hughton that day. Stephens' regular central midfield partner, Beram Kayal, was a rare absentee as well.

At least the manager has the influential Israeli at his disposal this time.

Andrew Crofts was brought in against Preston for his first start of the season.

He comes back into the squad reckoning after ending the campaign back on loan at Gillingham.

But the likeliest solution is a return to the starting line-up for Steve Sidwell.

Although losing Stephens is a severe blow, Sidwell is an experienced and dependable deputy.

His loan return to the club from Stoke City includes the play-offs, so there is a good chance he is about to add to his four starts and 12 substitute appearances since rejoining in January.

Stephens' absence deprives Hughton of an option he may well have been contemplating for the first leg against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Friday night.

Stephens, Kayal and Sidwell played together to solid effect in the 0-0 draw away to fellow play-off contenders Hull in January.

The possibility of Hughton opting for a 4-5-1 formation has been reduced, although he could still lean that way by including Crofts or even Inigo Calderon.

Irishman Richie Towell, whose only start to date was at Hull in the FA Cup, will be a bench rather than starting candidate.

Rohan Ince and Jake Forster-Caskey are unavailable under the terms of their loan arrangements with Fulham and MK Dons.

It is doubtful Hughton would have turned to either of them in any case, a remark also applying to striker Chris O'Grady. He too is ineligible following his season-long loan at Nottingham Forest.

Sidwell started the 0-0 home draw against Sheffield Wednesday in March at Kayal's expense.

His last start was at Birmingham last month as deep-lying support for Tomer Hemed, which emphasised his versatility in midfield areas.

Six days later Sidwell came off the bench to snatch a winner at Forest, his first goal for Albion for 14 years.

Back in 2002 he was a free-scoring teenager, borrowed from Arsenal, as Albion were relegated from the Championship.

It would be quite a story if, in the veteran stage, he plays a prominent role in taking them up.