Dale Stephens believes he is equipped to hold his own now that he has finally arrived in the Premier League.

It is a case of third time lucky for Albion's influential central midfielder.

Stephens was a target for Aston Villa in 2012-13 when he was at Charlton but the move collapsed.

Burnley failed with six bids to buy him last summer for their return to the top flight.

Stephens knuckled down after handing in a transfer request, helped Albion to promotion and then signed a new deal, keeping him at the club until 2021.

Now the 27-year-old will be up against global stars in the midfield battleground, beginning with Yaya Toure (below), David Silva and company when Pep Guardiola's Manchester City visit the Amex for the opening fixture on August 12.

The Argus: Stephens told The Argus: "It will be good to test ourselves against the best players in the country and the world really. I'll make sure I'm ready for the test.

"I don't think it will be easy by any means but I am going into it confident. I feel like I can hold my own. I'm excited to get started."

Although as a Lancastrian they do not come much bigger than Manchester City at home for Stephens, there is one match further down the line that he is particularly relishing.

"Obviously the big teams coming here but I'm looking forward to the Palace game," he said. "I've heard a lot about it. I've not played in one for Brighton yet.

 

"They had the play-off games (2012-13) where there was a bit of needle between the managers and players. I enjoy that side of the game."

Stephens, who combines combat out of possession with composure on the ball, will have extra support as Chris Hughton is planning to operate more of a five than four-man midfield to cope with the quality Albion will be facing.

German No.10 Pascal Gross from FC Ingolstadt was the first signing of the summer and Hughton still wants to add in that area of the pitch.

The Seagulls were interested in Australian Aaron Mooy before he rejoined Huddersfield from Manchester City permanently.

They are keen on Werder Bremen's all-action Danish international Thomas Delaney (below right), but the German side's stiff reluctance to a sale and consequential asking price is a major stumbling block.

The Argus: Stephens said: "It wouldn't be a surprise if he (Hughton) did put an extra midfielder in the team for certain games. It's just normal approaching the big games.

"What ever system we play we have we will a squad and a team hungry to succeed at the level. It's certainly exciting times.

"The manager always tells everybody it's a great group. He (Gross) will fit in straight away and be welcomed by everybody.

"I would like to see a few more come in. I'm sure the manager would say the same. As long as they are right we welcome all sorts of players. We need to add, we've let a few go. It will be exciting to see a few more players come through the door."

Albion's other significant signing so far is Valencia goalkeeper Maty Ryan, who will take over between the posts from David Stockdale following his move to Birmingham.

Ryan, his season extended by Confederations Cup duty for Australia in Russia, will link up with his new team-mates for the first time when they return from a week-long training camp in Austria, starting tomorrow, a trip concluding with the opening friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf next Friday (5pm UK time).

Stephens said of Stockdale's exit: "I was sad to see him go. He's been a vital part of the team for two years. He's a good character but he'll have his reasons. I wish him all the best.

"It would be nice to see some more at the same level we have already signed. I've not met him (Ryan) yet, he's obviously been away on international duty, but he comes from a good pedigree."

Five or six more signings are expected before the transfer window shuts at the end of August. The squad will evolve for the step up but Stephens believes retaining a tight-knit dressing room will be key to Albion's survival chances.

"I think it's proven by the teams that have gone up," he said. "You look at Burnley and Bournemouth, they've kept the core of the squad that got them there.

"Togetherness works. I think we'll do that as well. It will be nice to see everybody get a chance to play at the level."

Stephens and his colleagues have already experienced the different scale of interest associated with the Premier League, a four-hour shoot for Sky Sports coinciding with their return last week from their summer holidays.

Is he prepared, after two seasons of success, for a more regular taste of defeat?

"I wouldn't like to get ready for it," he said. "Nobody likes to lose football matches and consecutive games but we are realists. We understand it is a difficult division.

"We are not going to go into every game and play people off the park like we have for a long time.

"We've lost games before and bounced back. We've got a good mentality when we have been beaten. We have come back really strongly and we'll look to do that again."