Albion were today facing the prospect of tackling fellow promotion hopefuls Hartlepool without their talismanic captain.

Danny Cullip is expected to miss Saturday's key clash at Withdean after lasting only 45 minutes at Sheffield Wednesday.

Cullip went off with a recurrence of thigh trouble halfway through last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Hillsborough.

A scan yesterday revealed the injury, sustained by the centre half in the Seagulls' previous home outing against Colchester, has worsened.

Cullip hates missing matches but manager Mark McGhee is unlikely to risk him again.

He will want his defensive leader fit for the pivotal Easter programme of two matches in three days, away to Blackpool on April 10 and at home to Rushden and Diamonds 48 hours later.

Albion are retaining Stuart Jones as a third goalkeeper on a weekly contract.

Jones missed training last week, so the fit-again Michel Kuipers was back on the bench against Sheffield Wednesday as cover for Ben Roberts.

Tonight's match between Port Vale and Swindon at Vale Park will have a bearing on fifth-placed Albion's promotion prospects.

Swindon are a point and a place above the Seagulls, Port Vale four points and two places adrift, and they each have tonight's game in hand.