ALBION under-23s can claim top spot in their European group tonight – if they get a result against Bayern Munich.

But ex-Seagulls defender Uwe Huenemeier says the bigger picture is players gaining valuable experience and plotting a route to senior football.

The famous Bundesliga outfit send their B team to play in the final group D fixture of the Premier League International Cup at the Lancing training complex (7pm).

Albion lead the group on goal difference from Everton but Bayern will grab top spot and a place in the last eight if they win.

Simon Rusk’s side had a 2-0 home win over Benfica in their last group game in October after a 2-2 draw against Everton the previous month.

Bayern kept their hopes alive by beating Benfica B 1-0.

They play in the senior league structure in Germany and for several years competed in the national third tier.

Bayern currently top their section of the regionalised fourth division with 44 points from 20 games.

Huenemeier, now back in Germany with second-tier Paderborn, will be intrigued to see who plays for the visitors.

He told The Argus: “The young goalkeeper Christian Früchtl is a prospect for the future, but right now he’s got Neuer and Ulreich ahead of him and he is third choice in the first team, but plays a lot for the under-23s.

“Jeong Woo-yeong, from South Korea, played in the group stage of the Champions League for the first team.

“I don’t know if they will send these kids over for that game, because they normally train with the first team.

“Right now, it’s really difficult for young players to break through to that first team, especially at Bayern Munich, so they rather go out on loan like Brighton does.

“The time to develop young players isn’t given because of the pressure to win titles and perform week in and week out, especially for a team like Bayern.”

Woo-yeong has scored nine league goals for Bayern II this term.

Tonight’s match is already sold out. Albion’s home league fixture against Spurs has been brought forward from Monday evening at Crawley to Sunday at the training ground (2pm).