WEST Brom manager Valérien Ismaël is looking forward to the challenge of facing Albion in the FA Cup.

Graham Potter and his side travel to the Hawthorns for their first FA Cup match of the season tomorrow and as the Premier League side will be favourites to progress.

Ismaël however is hoping the third round test can allow him to assess his own side's progress.

He told the media in his pre-match conference: “I’m looking forward to assessing our situation against a Premier League club.

“As a manager and as a player, I always wanted to compete with the best. You can only improve and get better when you come up against the best.

“It’s the next step in our development as a team and a club, coming up against a team in Brighton who have a clear way of playing. 

The French manager has also praised Potter's side for the season they have had so far.

He said: “They are now an established club in the Premier League and they’ve had a great season so far.”