Chris Hughton will make multiple changes again for Albion's FA Cup fourth round tie at home to West Brom.

The dilemma he faces is how far to go without jeopardising the chance of another good run in the competition.

Albion reached the quarter-finals last year before losing at Manchester United. They have a deeper squad now than they had then.

Hughton was right when he said recently the Seagulls are not realistic contenders to win the FA Cup.

The closer you get to Wembley, the more seriously the big guns treat it.

The trophy has been lifted nine times in the last ten years by one of the top six, the exception being Wigan.

The odds are therefore stacked against Albion repeating their run to the final in 1983, so Hughton (below) has to balance progress against the priority of Premier League safety.

The Argus: The circumstances are a little different this time to the third round, when he made eight changes for the visit to Bournemouth.

The tie away to another Premier League club followed the hectic festive programme, with no game afterwards for another week.

Now Albion face Championship opposition at home, albeit it that West Brom were only relegated last season.

They also have a significant fixture at Fulham three days later.

Fulham, next-to-bottom, are 12 points adrift of Albion, 13 effectively with their far inferior goal difference.

A draw or win at Craven Cottage would virtually guarantee the Seagulls finishing above their hosts and Huddersfield, three points further behind at the bottom.

That would leave only Cardiff, seven points adrift, and the cluster of clubs four and five points below to be concerned about in the context of securing a third season in the top flight.

The extent of the changes Hughton makes against West Brom will be governed partly by availability.

Whether, for example, Bernardo (hamstring) and Yves Bissouma (hip) are fit.

The Argus: Can he afford to go as far as including Viktor Gyokeres (above centre) or Max Sanders, the under-23s players who have been on the premises in recent matches?

The priority for West Brom of promotion is even greater than Albion's survival aim.

We saw that when the Seagulls were chasing the same goal. Hughton would change the entire team.

West Brom have more depth than Albion had then, because they were in the Premier League last season.

Nevertheless, Darren Moore will have more of an eye on their next match at home to fellow promotion contenders Middlesbrough the following Saturday.

He made nine changes for their narrow win at home to Championship opponents Wigan in the previous round.

Moore will be mindful that Albion at the Amex represents a much tougher test but he will still probably make as many, if not more, changes than Hughton.

There is another aspect to consider. Liverpool are already out, Manchester United and Arsenal play each other in the fourth round.

Tottenham have a tricky test at Crystal Palace without Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min and Dele Alli, responsible between them for 39 of the 72 goals scored by Mauricio Pochettino's side.

That increases the chances of a Wigan, who avoided the top six until upsetting Manchester City in the final.

Albion's run to the quarter-finals helped rather than hindered their league form last season. They had their best period following the last-gasp fourth round victory at Middlesbrough.

Given luck of the draw, they could go at least as far again.