BOSS Russell Slade is up for the challenge of steering Albion to safety on the last day of the season.

The Seagulls were eight points adrift when they lost at MK Dons in early April.

Now a fifth win in seven games against Stockport at Withdean on Saturday will guarantee League One survival following a 2-2 draw at Huddersfield.

Albion could stay up even if they draw or lose, depending on other results involving Crewe, Carlisle and possibly Northampton.

Slade said: “We didn’t want it to go to the last game but we would have taken that two or three weeks ago. It’s in our own hands and that is the most important thing.

“To get into the position we are in we’ve had to win three and draw one away from home, which is incredible form really.

“We have given ourselves that opportunity, now it is going to go to the 46th game.

“It’s a challenge but I don’t shirk a challenge, otherwise I would not have come here in the first place."

Gary Hart will be missing against Stockport and may have kicked his last ball for Albion.

The long-serving striker, out of contract at the end of the season, went off after only nine minutes with a hamstring injury.

“It’s not looking good at all,” Slade said. “It was right in the belly of his hamstring.

“That's a bit of a blow for us, because he has done so well in his partnership with Lloyd (Owusu) over recent weeks."

Dean Cox was also forced off after setting up both goals with a recurrence of a knee injury he sustained at Bristol Rovers last week.

Slade said: “He probably wasn’t his normal sprightly self. His knee was a little bit sore but we have a little more time for him to recover.”

Northampton’s safety will be assured if they avoid defeat tomorrow night in their game in hand at home to play-off bound MK Dons.