ROD Thomas has emerged as a surprise contender to cover for Albion's suspended top scorer Darren Freeman.

The striker's role alongside Gary Hart is up for grabs for tomorrow's Withdean clash against in-form Hartlepool.

Manager Micky Adams, thwarted so far in attempts to land a loan replacement for Freeman, regards crowd pleaser Thomas as one of four candidates.

"I've got lots of options," he said. "I've got Scott Ramsay, Dave Cameron and Aidan Newhouse for a start, and Rod Thomas.

"He can play as an out and out striker as well, although he won't win too many headers!"

Thomas was given his only start in eight matches against Shrewsbury, when Adams made a switch to a more attacking formation.

He is better known as a winger, but has been used as an orthodox forward.

Skipper Paul Rogers is expected to recover from a knee injury sustained in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Southend.

That was only Albion's second defeat in eight games and Adams said: "There is a lot to be pleased about of late.

"Our performance at Peterborough and the first half at Southend were as good as anything we have produced."

Albion (from): Walton; Watson, Campbell, McPherson, Carr, Rogers, Hart, Oatway, Thomas, Cameron, Cullip, Aspinall, Johnson, Mayo, Newhouse, Ramsay.

Hartlepool (probable): Hollund; Westwood, Barron, Lee, Knowles, Clark, Stephenson, Miller, Shilton, Jones, Freestone. Subs (from) Midgley, Boyd, Hughes, Lake, Fitzpatrick, Vindheim, Henderson.

ALBION plan to open their ticket office in Brighton tomorrow morning to sell seats for Tuesday's FA Cup replay against Peterborough.

Over 1,000 tickets for general sale were snapped up within four hours yesterday.

Albion now expect their 4,000 season ticket holders to have their normal seats, as Peterborough have requested only a third of their tickets.

Tomorrow's match against Hartlepool is another sell-out, although tickets went slower than normal.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.