John Piercy has vowed to relieve a selection headache for Albion manager Mark McGhee by declaring himself fit for Saturday's vital visit to second-placed Queens Park Rangers.

Piercy missed Saturday's 0-0 home draw against Oldham after failing to recover from back-related hamstring trouble.

The former Tottenham utility player came through a 90-minute training session on Monday as Albion were forced inside by the weather to the Falmer Health and Racquets Club.

Now he is hoping to test the injury in the reserves at Eastbourne Town on Wednesday night in the Sussex Senior Cup.

Piercy said: "I am still feeling the hamstring. It's not 100 per cent but I am getting there.

"I am working hard to be ready for the QPR game because that really is a big one. I am very optimistic, I'm not even thinking about missing it."

Piercy's availability would be of dual benefit to McGhee as he could cover for the suspended Nathan Jones on the left side of midfield or offer a different option up front.

McGhee has been priced out of a move for a forward to compete with 18-goal Leon Knight and Chris McPhee, who was taken off early in the second half against Oldham.

"We are working with what we have got," he said. "We cannot afford to spend money on a striker.

"It's no mystery to me that we are finding it difficult to win games with the options that we have.

"I have been trying to sign a striker since the day I got here. That is not something I just learnt on Saturday, I have known that all along.

"Chris has done brilliantly, but I think he maybe needs to step out and then be put back in."

Meanwhile, defender Robbie Pethick has rejoined Weymouth in a one-month loan deal.

Pethick's last start for Albion was in the LDV Vans Trophy defeat at QPR in December.

The 33-year-old defender was sold to Portsmouth by Weymouth in 1993.

Steve Claridge, Weymouth's player-manager, said: "I've been looking to strengthen the defence for quite a while and Robbie fits the bill perfectly.

"He is an experienced player with a lot of League games under his belt and he will give us exactly what we need.

"He is also a great character to have in the dressing room and I'm grateful to Mark McGhee for allowing him to come."