Adam Virgo will offer a unique perspective as he gives TV viewers the benefit of his insight from the commentary box at the Stadio Olimpico.

Put it this way. He knows what it is like to play on a pitch surrounded by an athletics track.

He was the late hero when a two-legged knockout tie meant playing Swindon at Withdean in the League One play-offs.

The former Albion skipper is on co-commentary duty for TNT Sport as they show the Seagulls’ game at AS Roma live as part of their comprehensive coverage of Europa League football.

He knows as well as anyone the context for the visiting club.

And he will take a look around and enjoy the surroundings.

Like many of us, he was brought up on Channel 4’s coverage of Serie A and developed a soft spot for Lazio with Paul Gascoigne.

Albion fans will be in a section of the Curva Nord, which is Lazio’s home end, this evening.

And he knows a bit about Roma’s progress having often been handed their games by BT Sport in recent seasons.

He followed their progress to the Conference League crown and Europa League final in the last two seasons under the dour but effective methods of Jose Mourinho.

Now he is intrigued by what lies ahead as the schools of Daniele De Rossi and Roberto De Zerbi meet.

Virgo said: “I seemed to get Roma all the time, probably because they were a story with Mourinho and he attracted the TV coverage.

“The atmosphere at the Olimpico is unbelievable.

“The anthems they play are deafening.

“Players will have to adjust. It is nothing like playing in England.

“They will be used to it to a certain extent but it is a massive game in terms of dealing with the pressure and dealing with a side who, unfortunately for Brighton, have picked up since Mourinho left.

“You always get it with a former player who goes back as manager. He has that immediate trust of the fans.

“They think he knows what is expected and how a team can play.

“They are scoring a lot more goals now and they are playing with a freedom.

“Mourinho teams were very regimented, very defensive-minded and not a great watch.

“But he brought them a European trophy so it is hard to criticise.

“The attacking players they had, like Paulo Dybala, were never going to profit.

“They are beating decent teams convincingly now.

“The Roma way? I never understand it. What’s the right way?

“What’s ‘the West Ham way’ or ‘the Tottenham way’ that we hear about?

“But they are playing with freedom – and that can be good for Brighton in many ways.

“Brighton tend to play better against sides who play with freedom rather than shut up shop.”

The De Zerbi factor adds another edge to the game, even though the Albion boss himself plays it down.

But will it make any difference to the players?

Virgo said: “Roberto has built himself such a reputation, there is an inevitability that one day he will go back to Italy.

“Now the fans and media are going to see him back in Italy with Brighton.

“As a player, you would be aware if a game meant more to a manager – more often than not because he was going back somewhere where he had been sacked!

“It won’t be the whole team talk but the players will be conscious of the fact.

“He has been there as Sassuolo manager.

“I will say this on commentary – Brighton can go through but I don’t see them going through the two games without conceding.

“The key is when will those goals be conceded?

“Are they going to go 2-0 down in half an hour, like they did in Marseille?

“I’ll be amazed if they don’t score over two legs but I’ll be amazed if they don’t concede, even though in Europe they started keeping clean sheets.

"It’s a great game on paper. It’s one I was hoping for when we looked at the play-offs.”

Virgo is aware of the threats of Romelu Lukaku (“a serious player who is flying in Italy and can hurt Brighton”) and Dybala.

He added: “Dybala can blow hot and cold.

“You see the clips and the highlights and he is unplayable.

“You see him over 90 minutes and it hasn’t been as good but I think a lot of that was the manager.

“De Rossi is like, ‘You go and play’ and he has a bit more freedom about him.”

He believes midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini is the type of player who would fit Albion’s style perfectly and likes the industry of Bryan Cristante and Leandro Paredes in midfield.

Virgo added: “It’s going to be fine margins.

Like a certain two-legged tie against Swindon maybe?