Gus Poyet is in line for a double defensive boost as he looks to guide Albion past 50 points.

Left back Marcos Painter joins his colleagues for full training today and could feature at Southend on Saturday after recovering from a knee injury.

Meanwhile central defender James Tunnicliffe, who returned from a loan spell at MK Dons this week, is over a virus and features for the reserves in the Sussex Senior Cup tonight.

Poyet is impatient to score at least another point and secure safety and Painter could add to the various selection decisions he faces at Roots Hall.

The Seagulls boss said: “Marcos is back training with us and it depends on him. We will see how he is on Friday.

“James was ill for a week but he is back training and is probably in the reserves. We know how he has been doing. We were checking on him.

“We went to see him play against Swindon and he did very well and scored a goal but it’s difficult judging him with MK Dons because they defend a different way to us.”

Dean Cox, Gary Hart and Steve Cook will be joined by a host of youth teamers for the Senior Cup semi-final against Hastings at Eastbourne Town.

Poyet must make contract decisions on the club’s second-year scholars in the coming weeks and said: “It’s important for them to play in tough competitive games.”