Craig Mackail-Smith is fit to start Albion’s Championship opener at Hull today.

But there is no Vicente in the 18 at the KC Stadium.

The Spanish star has a minor niggle.

Mackail-Smith and fellow attacking player Ashley Barnes both start for the Seagulls.

Andrew Crofts returns after international duty and there is a switch in central defence where Adam El-Abd replaces Lewis Dunk.

Hull have lost last season’s top scorer Matty Fryatt to an Achilles problem so Aaron Mclean starts alongside new German striker Nick Proschwitz.

The Tigers have also had some good news, though.

Winger Sone Aluko has received international clearance after moving south from Rangers and makes his debut today.

That should allow Robert Koren to operate in a central playmaking role rather than on the left.

Both teams started the competitive season in unconvincing fashion against lower division opponents in the Capital One Cup.

Albion lost 3-0 at Swindon and Hull needed penalties to beat Rotherham after a 1-1 draw here at the KC Stadium.

The Seagulls are chasing a first ever win and goal at this venue.

Their two previous visits resulted in a 2-0 defeat and 0-0 draw.

Hull: Amos; Rosenior, Chester, Faye, Dudgeon; Stewart, McKenna, Koren, Aluko; Mclean, Proschwitz. Subs: Oxley, Evans, McShane, Simpson, Cainey, Olofinjana, Bruce.

Albion: Kuszczak; Bruno, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge; Bridcutt, Dicker, Crofts; Noone, Barnes, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Ankergren, Dunk, Calderon, Painter, Harley, LuaLua, Agdestein.

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton).