Albion will gear up for their second season in the Championship with a quickfire hat-trick of friendlies away to League opponents.

Colchester United, Oxford United and Bournemouth are among the sides the Seagulls will be facing as they unveiled their pre-season programme today.

Albion go to Layer Road, Colchester, on Saturday July 23 (3pm). They make their first ever visit to Oxford's Kassam Stadium on Wednesday July 27 (7.45pm) before completing their preparations at Bournemouth on Saturday July 30 (3pm).

Bournemouth just missed out on the play-offs and, together with League One rivals Colchester and League Two Oxford, will give Mark McGhee's side a testing build-up to their opening Championship fixture on August 6.

Other friendlies have been arranged away to St Albans on Friday July 15 (7.45pm) and at Lewes on Sunday July 17, kick-off to be confirmed. They follow the matches already announced, away to French club Le Havre on July 9 and at Worthing on July 13.

Albion could not arrange any friendlies at Withdean as the seats are once again being used for the Open Golf Championship at St Andrews.

Long-serving pair Paul Watson and Nathan Jones discover today whether they still have a future with the club when the players report back from a four-day break in Marbella.

Meanwhile, McGhee is tipping second favourites Preston to win the Championship play-offs, rather than last Sunday's Withdean visitors Ipswich.

"I think it will be the winner of the Preston and Derby tie," he said. "They have showed the most form recently but Derby have a couple of injuries so I make Preston favourites."