It is a dilemma Darren Currie has been fearing for weeks.
Helping Ipswich to victory at Withdean on Sunday could carry him towards his dream of playing in the Premiership.
Sending Albion down in the process is the stuff of nightmares for the man rescued from the scrapheap by Seagulls boss Mark McGhee.
Currie is convinced it won't come to that, even if Ipswich get the win they need to keep the pressure on second-placed Wigan.
"Life has a habit of throwing things like this in front of you," he said. "But I honestly believe Brighton are safe.
"They have a three-point cushion and hopefully that will be enough with Crewe dropping points on the final day."
Nobody will be more pleased than Currie if Albion survive, providing of course it is not at the expense of Ipswich's promotion push.
"I did my bit for them when I was there and they are a fantastic bunch of lads," he said.
"I owe a lot to Mark McGhee and Bob Booker for their help and support at the beginning of the season so I'd be thrilled to bits if they get the chance to play in the Championship next year.
"All I hope is that they get their stadium and have another successful season."
It has been a successful season so far for Currie, both with Albion and Ipswich.
The nephew of former Leeds and Sheffield United legend Tony Currie soon established himself as the Seagulls' creative force after McGhee snapped up the former Barnet midfielder on a free transfer from relegated Wycombe Wanderers last summer. He scored twice in 21 Championship starts for Albion before his surprise £250,000 move to Ipswich in December.
Currie, a regular on the left flank for Joe Royle's side, is on the brink of promotion glory with the Tractor Boys, providing Wigan also slip up at home to Reading.
"I'm an Ipswich player now and that is the most important thing," he said. "I have the opportunity on Sunday of fulfilling a life ambition and I won't let anything get in the way of that.
"It is tantalisingly close. I felt it would come down to this game at Brighton but we go there in good form. All we can hope is we do our bit and hope Reading can do us a favour."
Currie made a dozen appearances at Withdean for Albion, scoring in the defeat by QPR in September and the draw with Sheffield United in October. Unlike most of the Ipswich players, he knows what to expect.
"Brighton have had a lot of success there over the years and have used the stadium and the surroundings to their advantage," he said.
"It is not a proper stadium and you can't get many fans in to create a good atmosphere.
"When I was there I could see the big clubs would come down, were not impressed with the surrounding and that worked against them sometimes, but I'm sure with the prize at stake the lads will just get their heads down and forget what is going on around them."
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