Ryan Harley has been thrown in at the deep end after completing his move to Albion from Swansea.

The £250,000 midfielder starts against Premier League outfit Sunderland in tonight's Carling Cup second round tie at The Amex.

Alan Navarro also gets a midfield berth but boss Gus Poyet has resisted any temptation to make sweeping changes.

If Newcastle player Kazenga LuaLua, on loan to the Seagulls, is to make a major impact against the Wearsiders it will have to be from the bench.

Mauricio Taricco and development squad striker George Barker are also among the seven subs.

Sunderland come south desperate for a result after their home derby defeat to Newcastle on Saturday and have switched to a 4-3-3 set-up.

That means David Vaughan and Seb Larsson up front along with dangerman Stephane Sessegnon.

Right-back Phil Bardsley, sent-off on Saturday, is banned tonight so Ahmed Elmohamady moves back into defence.

The Premier League outfit also have several knee injuries, including long-term absentee Craig Gordon.

The Scottish keeper has been replaced by Simon Mignolet of late but he makes way for summer signing Keiran Westwood tonight.

Albion: Ankergren; Calderon, Greer, Dunk, Painter; Navarro; Bridcutt, Harley, Noone; Barnes, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Brezovan, Sparrow, Dicker, Vincelot, LuaLua, Taricco, Barker.

Sunderland: Westwood; Elmohamady, Ferdinand, Brown, Richardson; Cattermole, Gardner, Colback; Vaughan; Sessegnon; Larsson. Subs: Mignolet, Gyan, Wickham, Li, Bramble, Cook, Laing.

Ref: Andy D'Urso (Essex)