It is the clash of two goal-scoring heavyweights which could decide who reaches the play-off final.

In the blue corner, Albion's Leon Knight, in the red corner his former team-mate Sam Parkin from Swindon.

The phrase 'team-mate' is actually a little misleading. Knight and Parkin played up front alongside each other in Chelsea's youth team and reserves, but backgrounds as different as their builds contributed to a frosty relationship.

Knight, all 64 inches of him, had a tough upbringing in Hackney in the east end of London. His Jamaican mother Charmaine took him to karate lessons from an early age to make sure he could look after himself.

Afternoon teas on sunlit lawns are more the order of the day in Roehampton, where the 6ft 2ins Parkin was raised.

The leafy suburb in south-west London stages the tennis qualifying event for Wimbledon and has the Bank of England sports ground, where England used to train.

Knight said: "We had an effective partnership, little and large. He's a very good player, tall but very good on the floor as well. He's got decent pace and he is strong in the air.

"We haven't kept in touch, because we didn't really get on. On the pitch you have to do what you have to do, but off the pitch you could say it was a clash of personalities.

"Things he was interested in I wasn't and vice versa, so we never really spoke."

Albion's watertight defence could have problems containing Parkin. He has already scored three goals against them this season.

Swindon have even more reason to be scared of Knight. One of his 25 League goals came within minutes of his introduction as a second-half substitute in the 2-1 defeat at the County Ground in December.

He was on the bench after missing the 4-0 home victory against Wycombe 48 hours earlier through suspension, but he will certainly be starting this time.

Knight has never gone more than three games without a goal for Albion and goes into Sunday's first leg having drawn a blank against Bristol City, Notts County and Wrexham.

"We all know what is at stake," he said. "We are trying to approach it like an important league game. We are trying not to get too excited, but we will all be up for it. Swindon are a good side. We both believe we can beat each other. We have taken one point off them this season, but it's a clean slate and we are going there to win.

"The league doesn't matter now, it's just like a big cup game over two legs and anything can happen in cup games."

At least lightning has not struck twice for Knight. He is eligible against Swindon, despite an FA charge of violent behaviour hanging over him from an incident at the end of the game at his old club Sheffield Wednesday in March.

His only previous involvement in the play-offs was as a frustrated spectator with Huddersfield two seasons ago.

"It was in the Second Division when Brighton went up as champions," Knight said. "I was suspended for both legs and we were beaten by Brentford.

"I would have been able to play in the final if we had got there and I am more than keen to make up for that.

"I was at the games on the bench cheering the lads on. They are very tense occasions, but that is when you have got to hold your nerve and that is when a good player shows what he is capable of, when the pressure is on."

Knight has been showing what he is capable of all season. Only Andy Johnson, of Crystal Palace, scored more goals in the Nationwide League, but Albion's feisty mini-marvel is brutally honest about his most recent performances.

"My form has been below-par," he admitted. "It has been a long season. Not even Thierry Henry can go through a season playing magnificently in every game. You do get a bit tired, but you have just got to keep plugging away. The manager believes in me and the play-offs are totally different, like starting a new season all over again.

"I would have taken 26 goals when I signed. I have achieved what I wanted to achieve goal-wise and I'm pleased with that, but this is a clean slate now.

"Those goals don't matter any more, it's about the goals in the next two games and possibly three. I will be going out to kick-start the play-offs with another goal and another win."

That would make Knight popular, even amongst the more seasoned Seagulls supporters who voted for Guy Butters and Danny Cullip ahead of him in the player of the year poll.

"It didn't surprise me at all," Knight said. "Guy Butters has done well and I was delighted for him.

"Third? I have achieved what I wanted to achieve this season, getting automatic promotion or in the play-offs and scoring 25 goals. I've got 26, so I am happy with the way things are going.

"I think I have got the support more of the younger fans. The older lot have seen a lot of players come through and they prefer the older players.

"Football is about opinions. They have got their opinions on me, whether they say I moan too much or don't work enough, but I have got the support of the younger fans which is fine by me.

"It's important for my career that the club keep going forward with the stadium and getting into the play-offs. I am going to be trying my best and I know a few of the other boys badly want to get back into the First Division."