Players always remember certain landmarks in their career.

Tommy Elphick does not recall his full debut for Albion with any great affection but, nearly a year on, he has blossomed and so too have the team.

Elphick made his first start against Doncaster at Withdean last season.

The Seagulls had just come off a safety-securing victory at Northampton to move up to 52 points, 11 clear of relegation but also 13 adrift of the play-off places.

Doncaster ran out comfortable 2-0 winners on a forgettable afternoon for Dean Wilkins' mid-table side. It was the first of five defeats in a row as they ended the campaign with a whimper.

Tomorrow Elphick and his team-mates greet the same opponents, on the same points tally and only two places higher in the table (11th rather than 13th) but in much better shape.

Just three points divide them from Tuesday's victims Walsall in fifth spot and they are 16 points above the relegation zone.

The progress they have made has been matched by Elphick, now established as a regular in the centre of defence.

The 20-year-old Brightonian acknowledges the Doncaster fixture will have an altogether different feel to it this time around than 11 months ago.

"I was happy with my performance that day but we weren't going up or down and we were trying a few new things," he said.

"The pitch was bobbly and it was a typical end of season game really, pretty relaxed, but it will be hammer and tongs tomorrow. They have got to stay in their position and we have got to try to gain a few points.

"This is what it's all about. We all want to be in the play-offs and playing at Wembley but we have got a long way to go. We have just got to keep our heads down and keep kicking on."

If Albion beat Doncaster and win at Huddersfield on Tuesday they will, at the very least, be level on points with the teams in fifth and sixth.

It could be even better than that should Walsall fail to take all three points at fourth-placed Nottingham Forest tomorrow and Southend likewise at Huddersfield.

Elphick said: "We've got no excuses now, we have got ourselves to a stage where it really is down to us. It is in our own hands and games like tomorrow are where we have got to be looking to put three points on the board.

"When you have games in hand everyone automatically assumes you are going to get the three points. That is definitely not the case and we have still got another hard game in hand against Huddersfield away that we have got to go and win to put ourselves in that position but, as I say, it is all in our own hands and I don't see why we cannot do it."

First things first, though. Elphick and his latest partner, former youth, reserve team and loan colleague at Bognor Joel Lynch, have to halt an annoying statistic for the defence. Each of the last four goals Albion have conceded, against Gillingham, Carlisle and Walsall, stemmed from set pieces.

As well as Elphick and Lynch performed in the wind and rain in the West Midlands on Tuesday, Anthony Gerrard still scored for Walsall with a header from a free-kick.

"It is a bit frustrating," Elphick said. "Because we have got a young side I think it is more an experience thing than anything, having the courage to keep a higher line and concentrating as well when the ball is cleared. You have got to be aware of where your man is.

"It's not good to be conceding from set pieces. I am sure they will be aware of that and they will be trying things but Joel is back now, which gives us added height, and that is another positive.

"I enjoy playing with Joel. He is a fantastic player. It works well, with him being left-footed. He brings another presence to the side, especially defending corners and crosses and even going forward.

"He is a class player, we all know that. He has just been riddled with bad luck this year with injuries. It is good to see him back fit and at his best."

Elphick knows he and Lynch will need to be at their best to stifle Doncaster's fluid formation.

"They have got something different going forward with Mark McCammon and Heffernan, who is a very clever and intelligent striker, so it will be another new test," he said.

"They sort of play three up front, with McCammon wide left. It is quite a popular formation these days. Chelsea started it and now a few clubs use it."

With considerable success in Doncaster's case as well but manager Dean Wilkins is confident Elphick will cope.

"Tommy's improvement has been huge," said Wilkins "He expected to be playing sooner last season but I didn't think he was ready. This season he deserved his chance and he has taken it. His performances haven't surprised me at all."

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