Albion manager Mark McGhee today hailed Swindon as the ideal play-off opponents for both his in-form side and supporters.

The Seagulls make the 135-mile journey to Wiltshire for the first leg at the County Ground on Sunday (4pm), with the return leg at Withdean on Thursday, May 20 (7.45pm).

They have avoided a draining trek to Hartlepool, who face Bristol City in the other play-off sem-final after drawing 1-1 at Swindon on Saturday.

Albion lost 2-1 at Swindon in the League at the end of December, but they go into the play-offs brimming with confidence following Saturday's closing 2-0 win at Wrexham.

Their fifth away victory extended their unbeaten finish to the regular season to five games and keeper Ben Roberts has not conceded a goal over that period.

McGhee said: "That is the most important thing for us, not what happened at Swindon months ago but what is happening now. We are in as good shape as we have been going into the play-offs as at any stage of the season and that for me is significant.

"Swindon is the right game for us. Our supporters can make the trip easily. We are not having to drag ourselves up to Hartlepool, so I think it is an ideal one for us. Losing down there in the League has no bearing whatsoever, because we are a much better team than we were then."

McGhee regards Bristol City, pipped for the second automatic promotion place by Queens Park Rangers, as favourites for the play-offs which culminate in the final at cardiff on May 30.

"In a sense they have underachieved," he said. "They really should have gone up automatically. They have enough experience and ability.

"They have fallen a little bit short. I still think they are favourites given their experience in the play-offs already, but the other three teams want to challenge that, ourselves included."

Albion expect about 2,300 tickets from Swindon for Sunday's all ticket match at the County Ground and are accepting postal applications (one per AMS member, provided they joined the scheme before April 17, 2004).

Postal applications will be accepted until 5pm on Tuesday May 11.

Season-ticket holders have until May 13 to buy their tickets for the home leg.