Albion captain Paul Rogers is ready to battle for his midfield place after a rare blow to his pride.

Rogers was replaced by Darren Freeman for the second half of last Saturday's opening day defeat at Southend.

Manager Micky Adams brought off his skipper at the break to make a tactical change.

"We started 4-3-3, with Charlie Oatway picking up Scott Houghton," said Rogers.

"We were a goal behind and the gaffer wanted an extra forward on to play 4-4-2.

"You never want to come off, but you could see his thinking.

"There are players here disappointed not to be playing, but you have got to be big enough to get on with it.

"It shows the competition we have for places now."

Adams made Rogers, 35, his first signing on a free transfer from Wigan when he launched his squad rebuilding last summer.

The Portsmouth-born veteran made more appearances than any Albion player last season, missing only one match through suspension.

The additions to the squad by Adams during the close season included midfielders Richard Carpenter from Cardiff and Steve Melton from Stoke.

Said Rogers: "He has brought in five players who were regular first-team players for other clubs.

"It is good for the club to have that sort of competition and gives him a few more options."

Warren Aspinall lines up for the reserves in their opening Combination fixture against one of his old clubs Portsmouth at Worthing tonight (7pm).

Albion Reserves (from): Packham; Hemsley, Virgo, A. Davis, Aspinall, Beech, Jackson, McPhee, Wilkinson, D. Davis, Melton, Thomas, Ramsay, Wojciechowski, Hammond.