Gary Hart's unselfish attitude has won praise from Albion boss Micky Adams as he prepares to confront his favourite opponents.

Hart has been converted from an orthodox striker into a right winger during the second-placed Seagulls' dramatic rise up the table.

That has reduced his goalscoring opportunities, but Adams is happy with the role Hart is performing ahead of tomorrow's trek to Darlington.

"The system we are using doesn't suit everybody, but that is the case with any system," said Adams.

"We were a selfish team at the start of the season. Now people are quite happy to sacrifice part of their own game to help the team out.

"It is not changing too much, because they are all doing the job I want them to do.

"At least Gary is in the team. He has not knocked on my door to say he is not scoring too many goals. He knows someone else could come in like Paul Brooker, Lee Steele or Rod Thomas."

Adams names the same outfield players for an incredible 12th match in a row for the visit to a side Hart thrives against.

He has scored in three of the last four meetings with Darlington, while his only goal in the last eight games came against their north-east neighbours Hartlepool.

Michel Kuipers continues to deputise between the posts for the injured Mark Cartwright and Andy Crosby is on the bench again against one of his old clubs.

Darlington have been in decline since the departures of manager David Hodgson and the prolific Marco Gabbiadini in the summer, but they still represent a stamina-sapping challenge for the buoyant Seagulls.

'They've had a big change around in personnel," Adams said. "Gabbiadini was the outstanding individual in the division last season, but now they have a manager (Gary Bennett) with different ideas and a lot younger side.

"It's always a difficult place for us to go, because of the length of the journey."

Darren Freeman, out of action since the end of August after double hernia surgery, had a second hernia operation yesterday.