Dean Wilkins could be forgiven for being a little distracted this evening, but he insists that Saints will be prepared for the first league game since Wembley.

The assistant manager spent the majority of his career with the Seagulls as a player and then in various other roles at the Club, but is approaching it the same as any other game on the back of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy success.

"That's the thing that we have mentioned," he explained to Saints Player. "In the same way that the players had to cut the environment that they played in on Sunday and put in a magnificent performance, we have to do the same thing at the Withdean. We are playing on a grass pitch, against eleven men and we just have to focus on that because if we do that then I am sure our performance will be good.

"It will be the first time, I think, that I will be on the side of the pitch against the Club that I worked for, for twenty years. I won't know whether it is strange until I get out there I guess, but for me it's pretty much the same as any other game at the moment. We have got our objectives we still have something that we are striving to achieve, so that will be the focus of the day."

Brighton will provide a solid assessment of Saints' play-off credentials which they have already proved this season with a win at St. Mary's earlier in the campaign, and Wilkins won't be surprised if they equal that effort tonight.

"The result was a shock to us, but the performances of Murray and Forster was of no shock to me because I had brought them to the Club. I knew their qualities then, and although Forster has moved on now Murray is still a proper handful, even though he has been playing as a lone striker.

"I know the two central defenders very well too because they came through the system there. I know their qualities, and they are clearly maturing as young men now, and that's reflected in the goals against column.

"They are tough, very tough opposition. The form guide shows that they are in third place and that we are one below there, so it's a game that we cannot be at all lapse in our concentration. We have to treat them with the upmost respect and their form of late, not just in results but also performances, has been very good."