Loan defender Matt Richards will be back to boost Albion's play-off challenge in the closing weeks of the season.

The injured Ipswich leftback is on course to link up again with the Seagulls next month.

Richards has been under treatment at Portman Road since tearing a hamstring in the home victory over Doncaster a fortnight ago.

He said: "It is going okay. I haven't tried to do any running on it yet. I am just taking it easy to make sure I don't injure it any further.

"Hopefully I'll be playing again in two to three weeks. I just don't want it to go again and then be out for longer. I'm a quick healer, so hopefully it will be sooner than that and I can get back down to Brighton.

"As far as I am concerned as soon as I am fit I will get back down there straight away and help the team out, although they have been doing really well without me so far."

Kerry Mayo deputised for Richards in the defeat at Huddersfield, last Saturday's Withdean win against Swindon and Monday's 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest.

Mayo keeps his place against play-off rivals Leeds at Elland Road with Andrew Whing returning from suspension at rightback at the expense of Gary Hart.

Albion's game plan for Leeds will be the same as it was at Forest.

Coach Ian Chapman said: "They are both massive clubs and well supported but sometimes that can work in your favour. If we can be nice and compact and strong, the crowd could get on their backs a little bit.

"You could feel a bit of anxiety around the ground at Forest. If we can hold Leeds for 15 or 20 minutes or get an early goal, the whole complexion of the game can change.

"Leeds have been up and down recently. We go there full of confidence and hopefully we can get three points, at worst a point.

"We have got seven games to go and we want to try and get a result in every one of them. If we can do that I think we will get in the play-offs."

Albion slipped out of the play-off places tonight thanks to Tranmere's 2-1 home win over Swindon. Chris Greenacre got what turned out to be the winner.

Nottingham Forest's slim hopes of automatic promotion surely ended as they lost 1-0 at Doncaster.