Albion boss Micky Adams has challenged his fringe players to prove they are prepared for the first team.

While the nation watches England, Adams will be casting his eye over three of his summer signings and a handful of regulars from last season's title winning squad at Worthing tonight.

Close season captures Robbie Pethick, Geoff Pitcher and Dirk Lehmann are all in action for the reserves against Swindon from 7pm.

They are joined in the starting line-up by Kerry Mayo, Andy Crosby, Matt Wicks, Gary Hart and Steve Melton for Albion's first home fixture in the Avon Insurance Combination League at Woodside Road.

Adams said: "They have got to show me they are ready for first team action and could be called upon at any time.

"Who is to say I won't make changes against QPR on Saturday? I'm tinkering with a couple."

Simon Morgan is the only one of Adams' summer signings to be a permanent fixture in the first team so far.

Lehmann lost his place for the home game against Blackpool at the end of last month, while Pethick and Pitcher have yet to make their full debuts.

Mayo has been replaced in the leftback slot by Nathan Jones and Hart was relegated to the bench by Lee Steele at Northampton last Friday.

Melton deputised for the suspended Paul Rogers at Tranmere, but like Pitcher he faces fierce competition in the middle of the park.

The task for Wicks, fit-again after thigh trouble, and Crosby is to try to dislodge the central defensive pairing of Morgan and Danny Cullip.

Young keeper Will Packham plus first year pros Shaun Wilkinson and Daniel Marney make up tonight's strong starting XI.

Adams knows that injuries and bans will inevitably begin to bite as the season progresses, so he wants every member of his squad prepared to seize their chance.

"We've had a decent start and the lads on the fringes have been slightly frustrated, but they are going to get an opportunity," Adams pledged.

"It would defeat the object if they weren't ready for action, so it's down to them."

Albion: Packham; Pethick, Mayo, Crosby, Wicks, Hart, Pitcher, Melton, Wilkinson, Marney, Lehmann. Subs: Jackson, Hemsley, Hammond, Bryant, McPhee.