However, the Seagulls do have a game in hand over their opponents on Saturday, and a victory this weekend would put them in the commanding position of being above them in the league having played fewer matches.

Brighton are just three points off the top six after they ended a three-match winless streak in all competitions with a 1-0 victory away to struggling Millwall last weekend.

Their most recent match against a direct playoff rival ended in disappointment as they lost 2-1 at home to Wigan last month, but they have won the other three of their last four league games.

Brighton's defensive record has been impressive this season, with only Burnley and Queens Park Rangers conceding fewer goals, but it is at the other end where they have experienced problems.

They have scored just 34 times in their 32 matches so far this season, the lowest tally of any team outside the league's bottom six, while they have also failed to score more than once in any of their last eight games.

The Seagulls have been strong at home this season, and that defeat to Wigan was their first in their last nine outings at the Amex in all competitions.

Manager Oscar Garcia could hand a home debut to loanee signing Jesse Lingard, but he will be without Andrew Crofts for the rest of the season while Craig Mackail-Smith has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury.

Reading, meanwhile, have now been displaced in the playoff places by in-form Wigan after an inconsistent spell of results that has seen them pick up just one win in their last four games.

That victory was an impressive 3-1 win away to Queens Park Rangers, but home defeats to Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers, as well as a draw against eight-man Yeovil in their last outing, have seen them slip down the table.

Another draw this weekend would be enough for them to return into the playoff places with Wigan not in action, but it could only be a temporary fix as the Latics would then have two games in hand over Nigel Adkins's men.

The Royals have been impressive away from home recently, however, winning their last two games on their travels and scoring three goals in both of those matches.

Despite their disappointing draw against Yeovil last time out, Reading could name an unchanged side, with Jason Roberts, Jem Karacan, Jobi McAnuff, Wayne Bridge, Mikele Leigertwood and Sean Morrison all struggling with injuries.

Recent form

Brighton: WWDLLW

Reading: WWLWLD

Possible starting lineups

Brighton: Kuszczak; Bruno, Upson, Greer, Ward; Stephens, Andrews; Lopez, Lingard, Orlandi; Ulloa

Reading: McCarthy; Gunter, Pearce, Gorkss, Obita; McCleary, Akpan, Williams, Robson-Kanu; Pogrebnyak, Le Fondre

Sports Mole says: 1-1