Danny Cullip is an inspirational leader for Albion, but now the boot is on the other foot.

The talismanic captain and central defender is being inspired himself week in and week out in the Coca-Cola Championship, by the quality of his opponents.

Albion have already felt the full force of Nathan Ellington's finishing power for Wigan. He scored twice in the 3-0 defeat at the JJB Stadium last month.

Cullip and his experienced partner Guy Butters kept Dion Dublin quiet in the Seagulls' shock win at Leicester.

They will soon be facing another former England striker, West Ham's Teddy Sheringham.

"It's great," Cullip said. "A lot of the players have been in the Premiership and it's nice to test yourself against the likes of Teddy Sheringham.

"He will bring a different side of the game to, for example a quick player, because he is clever. You have got to be aware, because he will pull off you. In this League you have got to concentrate all the time for 90 minutes, otherwise you get punished."

At Vicarage Road tomorrow, Cullip's defensive skills will be tested by another potent goal threat, Watford's Danny Webber.

The former Manchester United forward is joint top of the Championship scoring charts with Ellington.

"I've heard he is a very good player," Cullip said. "I remember him when we played against them last time.

"He's quick, not a big lump, but he's good in the air. He's also good at getting on the shoulder of you and darting in and he definitely seems to have an eye for goal."

Webber's double in Watford's last outing, a 3-1 home win against Plymouth, took his tally to five, equalling the number of goals he scored in the whole of last season.

The 22-year-old was hit then by injuries and the death of his close friend Jimmy Davis in a car crash. They grew up together on Manchester United's books.

"At the time I didn't realise it affected me quite badly on and off the field," Webber said. "It has been a gradual thing, but I've put it in the past. I haven't forgotten but I've moved on."

Webber's boiling hot form follows an unusual preparation. "In the summer I had a week in the heat running in Dubai," he explained.

"It was more than 100 degrees and hard work. I wanted to make sure I was mentally and physically prepared for the new season and I feel I've benefited from it."

Albion, meanwhile, have benefited from a return to the mean mood which helped them to promotion. They leaked nine goals in the first four games but have not let one in now for four hours.

"We beat Preston and went into the game against Leicester with renewed confidence," Cullip said. "That is a massive part of playing at this level.

"It's pleasing to get two clean sheets in two very hard games. Hopefully we will keep it solid again on Saturday all over the park. That starts from the front two, who are doing a very good job. It's not just the defenders. We defend as a team and attack as a team.

"With Virgs (Adam Virgo) up front at the moment we've got a big target man, which we've missed.

"As much as anything that stops the ball from keep coming back at us. In this league if that happens eventually you are going to get a goal against you.

"You might get away with it in the lower leagues, but not at this level."

Albion only had four points from 11 matches when they last visited Watford in the First Division two seasons ago.

They already have three points more from five games fewer after the back-to-back victories against Preston and Leicester, but Cullip is cautious about the Seagulls' mid-table position and sudden rise above bigger clubs like next Tuesday's visitors Wolves.

"If you look at the teams on paper the League is definitely stronger than two years ago," he said. "I think it is more competitive. Last time it was Portsmouth and Leicester. This time there are a lot of very big clubs and you wouldn't like to say who is going to go up and who is going to go down.

"I think it is going to be a fight at both ends of the table for the whole season.

"We are not kidding ourselves. We know for a fact we are not competing against the Wolves and Leicesters of this world. To pick a result up like we did at Leicester was a real bonus. No-one gave us a cat in hell's chance."