Brighton look to complete a hat-trick of upsets when they meet Chichester in the Sussex Cup final at East Grinstead tomorrow.

Despite starting as underdogs on both occasions, Brighton have beaten Chichester in the last two finals and are now chasing a third successive win.

Both sides could be missing key men. Brighton skipper Carlo Missirian is one of three injury doubts while Chi's player-coach Neil Pendle is on holiday.

Missirian has a hamstring injury, goalkeeper Pete Ashdown is struggling with a toe problem and defender Pete Smales is doubtful with an ankle injury. In addition, Don Turnbull is unavailable due to family commitments.

All three injured players are hoping to be fit and Brighton are unlikely to use former Olympic gold medallist Steve Batchelor who answered an emergency call to play and score twice in the semi-final defeat of Horsham.

Missirian said: "We realise Chichester are a very good side and we just want to give them a good game. If Chichester play as well as they can, we will be hard pushed to beat them."

Pendle had arranged his holiday to arrive back in time for a Sunday final, only to discover it was being played on Saturday this year.

Goalkeeper Steve Jones said: "We have gone into the finals as favourites but with all credit to Brighton, they have been the better side on the day.

"We do consider ourselves favourites again and hopefully this year we will put right what we haven't done for the last two years."

Crawley play Mid Sussex in the Plate Final tomorrow morning (10.15). It will be a farewell game for Crawley sweeper Chris Peach who has decided to retire.