Albion boss Micky Adams is gearing his players up for their biggest week of the season.

The Seagulls go to Spotland on Tuesday to face Rochdale.

Then Adams' former assistant Alan Cork brings Cardiff back to the city for another promotion six-pointer next Saturday.

"They are two very difficult games that's for sure," said Adams.

"I am not going to lose any sleep over them though. I know if we are up for it we're a match for anybody."

Rochdale have been rooted in the basement division since 1969, but Adams has a healthy respect for the team assembled by Steve Parkin.

"They were in a similar position last season before slipping away towards the end," Adams said. "Having watched them this year they are a very good side.

"Everybody talks about Clive Platt up front, but they have no real stars. They just work very hard for each other.

"Steve Parkin is one of the managers I have a lot of time for in the lower divisions. He gets them fit and organised."

Albion beat Rochdale 2-1 with a Bobby Zamora double in their opening match at Withdean back in August. It was the only time this season the Seagulls have come from behind to win following an early goal for the visitors by veteran Tony Ford.

Rochdale's ex-Albion defender Graeme Atkinson missed that match and he will be a spectator again at Spotland. Cruciate and lateral knee ligament damage sustained against Peterborough last April has ruled him out until next season.

Atkinson reckons Rochdale can last the course alongside the Seagulls.

"We have played everybody and we certainly believe nobody is better than us in the League," he said.

"It's a question of whether we can sustain a run of games. Our away form has been great, but our home form has let us down a bit.

"Maybe we have turned the corner at home now after beating Leyton Orient.

"I would like to think we will get a bit of revenge on Brighton and be up there with them and Cardiff, whatever happens to Chesterfield."

The Cardiff showdown will be Albion's first match at Withdean since New Year's Day. It has captured the imagination of both sets of supporters, with all tickets sold some time ago.

The Welshmen's allocation of 750 seats were snapped up within two hours.

Adams still speaks with Cork on a daily basis, but he reckons much of the credit for Cardiff's recent surge should go to owner Sam Hamman.

The former Wimbledon governor pinched Cork from Albion in September and moved Bobby Gould upstairs.

"Bobby's strengths have always been in scouting and recruiting players and Corky's in coaching," Adams said.

"That was a hard decision for Sam to make, but it was the right one."

Cardiff have already spent almost £1 million on front men Leo Fortune-West and Gavin Gordon. Now they are being linked with Carlton Palmer, who has been released by Coventry.

"It is not a surprise to me that Cardiff are up there," added Adams. "I think they can still catch Chesterfield.

"They are the one club in the Third Division that can really strengthen if they need to for the final push. I am talking about being able to bring in someone from a Premiership club on £6-7,000 per week. None of us can do that."