Albion boss Peter Taylor is targeting a £50,000 bonus for joining the big guns in the FA Cup.

That is the prize on offer under AXA's sponsorship if the Seagulls make it through to round three for the first time since 1992-93.

Premiership and First Division clubs enter the competition then and Taylor said: "For clubs like ourselves the beauty of the FA Cup is to get drawn against a big team.

"We know we are not going to win it, but we know we have got a good chance of getting through a couple of rounds against similar standard opposition, then everybody wants to play Manchester United away.

"That is the aim. Teams in the top half of the First Division and the Premier look to win it, we look to try and get in the third round."

Albion's first round tie against Shrewsbury at Withdean today could be a lucky omen. The last time they were drawn at home was in 1992-93 when Barry Lloyd's side beat Hayes on the way to a 1-0 exit at Manchester United in the fourth round.

Taylor is trying to succeed where Liam Brady, Jimmy Case, Steve Gritt, Brian Horton and Micky Adams all failed by steering the Seagulls through to the third round.

"It would be nice," Taylor said. "If we could have a Cup run as well that would be something new to a lot of supporters."