ALBION hot-shot Gary Hart is gearing up for a Sunday shoot-out with his old strike partner.

Hart and Richard Barker finished joint top scorers for the Seagulls last season with 12 each.

Tomorrow two of the most feared forwards in the Third Division come face-to-face at Macclesfield.

Hart, fresh from signing a new three-and-a-half- year contract, is playing catch-up.

He has hit three goals this season, while Barker has been on the rampage with 11 since his summer move to Moss Road.

A year ago chairman Dick Knight told fans Albion would turn down a £500,000 bid for Hart.

By coincidence that is the same price tag put on Barker by Macclesfield manager Sammy McIlroy.

"We had quite a good partnership and it will be nice to see him again," said Hart.

"I am not allowed to talk to him before the game, or else I'll get fined! But I'll have a drink with him afterwards.

"He is doing well now that he has moved back home to be with his family and I wish him luck for the rest of the season, except for tomorrow.

"I hope he scores a lot more goals, but obviously not against us."

Albion manager Micky Adams will not be paying special attention to Barker.

"There aren't too many players in the Third Division you make special provisions for," Adams said. "He's got 11 goals, but my replacement (Darren Freeman) has seven, which isn't bad."

Freeman cannot improve his tally tomorrow as he completes a three-match suspension.

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