Andy King has a reputation for putting his foot in his mouth and Albion want to make him eat his words.

The chain-smoking Swindon manager's remarks about the play-offs have not gone unnoticed in the Seagulls' camp.

King, once a combative midfielder for Everton, claimed: "We have got the best of the draw.

"I'd rather be going to Brighton than having to face Hartlepool or Bristol City home and away.

"A local derby would have been a bit of a lottery.

"That's the one for Cardiff, the dream one that the FA people and ticket touts would love."

The Albion players were given the day off on Monday but King's comments have played into the hands of manager Mark McGhee and his staff.

McGhee revealed: "We are not going to get involved in any mind games, but everybody seems to be reacting to what Andy King is saying.

"If he thinks they have got an easy game that suits us a treat. We know we have got a hard game."

Swindon's form going into the play-offs is hardly awe-inspiring, just two wins in their last ten matches, yet King insists: "On our day we are the best team in the Second Division.

"We haven't had the consistency, individually or collectively, to be where Plymouth are but there have been that many people who've told me 'you're the best team we've played'.

"Ian Holloway and QPR's chairman told me that the one game they'd been worrying about in the run-in was Swindon Town."

Striker Tommy Mooney, who missed the draw with Hartlepool due to illness, collected three player of the season awards last Saturday.

He won the Swindon Town FC player of the season award.

He was also the choice of the Swindon Town Supporters Club and the Robins' Supporters Trust.

Swindon are already cashing in on their success in reaching the play-offs this season.

The club released its team strip for the 2004-05 season yesterday so supporters can wear it against Albion.