Albion regular Paul Watson has warned the young guns of the defence he wants to win his place back.

Watson faces double competition for the rightback role from Adam El-Abd and Adam Hinshelwood, but he is not about to fade away without a fight.

The 28-year-old from Hastings has been hit by injury problems this season after missing only one League match in the last three years.

Sore foot arches handed Hinshelwood his chance under Steve Coppell and El-Abd has featured at rightback in the last two games under Mark McGhee.

Watson had to settle for a place on the bench against Wrexham last Saturday.

He was scheduled to play in the Seagulls' previous outing at Notts County until suffering a hamstring injury in training the day before.

"We were doing some sprints on the Friday and I just felt my hamstring cramp up a bit," Watson said.

"I thought it was going to get better, but it got a lot worse on the Saturday so I had to tell the gaffer quite late that I couldn't play.

"I was absolutely gutted, but Adam (El-Abd) has done well. We haven't got the money to go out and spend a hundred grand on bringing players in, so you need some young players coming through.

"As long as you balance it right between the experience and the youngsters it's good for the club."

Watson launches his bid to regain his spot in the Reserves against Queens Park Rangers at Worthing.

"I'm in the Reserves now and hopefully I can play my way back into the team," said the former Brentford, Fulham and Gillingham defender.

"You are not going to get anywhere if you sulk in training. You just end up going backwards and backwards. I am the type of player that wants to try and force the gaffer's hand to put me back in."

Wednesday night's clash in the Pontin's Holidays Cup at Woodside Road was being viewed as a dress rehearsal for Albion's visit to Rangers on Sunday in the last 16 of the LDV Vans Trophy (1pm).

Dean White's side must win to retain any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals from their five-team group following a draw with Crystal Palace and defeat against Millwall.

Albion Reserves (from): Keeley; Watson, Virgo, Hinshelwood, Harding, Marney, Pitcher, Pethick, Beck, Windsor, Lee, Budd, May, Breach, Robinson.