Former Albion stalwart Gary Hart and fellow veteran Radostin Kishishev are on standby for surprise appearances in the club’s opening first team friendly.

The pair, released at the end of last season, are training with the Seagulls as they try to get fixed up elsewhere.

They could be used to make the numbers up in Sunday’s pre-season run out at Burgess Hill (1pm).

Boss Gus Poyet needs 22 players for the game, as he is planning to field a completely different team in each half.

His playing resources are stretched, because the development squad also have a friendly at Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday (3pm).

Albion currently have 20 senior pros, including Poyet’s assistant Mauricio Taricco, following the signing of Craig Mackail-Smith.

Three of those are goalkeepers, while centre halves Adam El-Abd and Tommy Elphick are both injured.