Gus Poyet has predicted his Albion side can be Championship contenders - providing they avoid too many injuries.

But he has hinted the likeliest route to the Premier League for the Seagulls is through the play-offs.

Poyet takes his early table-toppers to Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Leicester today with a warning for the Foxes and the rest of the division that Albion’s undefeated start will not be relinquished easily.

Poyet told The Argus: “I think we are solid, a very good team. I think we are going to be a difficult team to beat.

“If we are lucky to keep the players fit I think we should be competing against everyone.

“I didn’t know that. It was very demanding in the beginning. Now it has been confirmed so there is no place to hide.

“We are a decent team that is going to compete with everyone home and away and it is going to be difficult for people to beat us.

“I think every week we are getting better. We have got options as well, we are not one team or one player and playing one way.

“We can change games very easily and we can go to a different kind of game.”

Albion have showed a clean pair of heels so far to Leicester, who are fancied with West Ham to take the two automatic promotion spots.

Poyet is not getting carried away but the Seagulls’ unbeaten six-match run in the league has strengthened the Uruguayan’s view of what could be achieved.

“I think we have got a belief now that shows we can be a team to be up in there,” he said.

“Saying that, I saw teams last year in League One who won four or five in a row, then lost four in a row.

“We need to be realistic. If I was at West Ham or Leicester I would say we are going to be in the top three and if not it is my mistake.

“I think we are going to be up in there. I cannot promise you top three, no chance, but we are a good team playing good football and enjoying playing together, making sure we are difficult to beat.”

Leicester have struggled to justify their reputation, losing twice at home already. They are desperate to re-establish their credentials in one of Albion’s glamour fixtures of the season.

Poyet added: “When we were in Portugal pre-season we talked about special games. For the players games like Leicester, West Ham, Birmingham and Leeds away are going to be special.

“The players are looking to forward to it, because they have got Premiership quality players and they are really pushing for the Premier League. It looks as if it has to be this year, which means we are going to be playing against one of the expected top two.

“I am 100% sure it is going to be more special for them now than it would be in normal circumstances. Maybe Leicester were expecting Brighton to be in the middle of the table and them in the top two.

“It is the opposite, which makes the game really interesting. The pressure is on them, no doubt.”

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