Wilkins: Play-off race will go to the wire

Swansea are hot favourites for the title, while the other automatic promotion spot rests between Carlisle and Doncaster, even though both were beaten at home on Tuesday.

The top three have broken away and, immediately below them, Steve Tilson's Southend and Nottingham Forest are well-placed to fill two more of the play-off positions.

Albion are then in a group of six clubs within six points of each other, headed by Tranmere, who currently occupy the final play-off place. The Seagulls are two points behind Rovers but they have a game in hand.

Wilkins said: "The top three are pretty much as they are, although there might be a change between Doncaster and Carlisle.

"Forest haven't picked up as many points as they would have liked, so everybody has got closer to them.

"Southend have been on a very good run and are looking strong at the moment. I think there are probably still five or six teams vying for two places.

"I think Orient will still feel they are in it. Until it is mathematically impossible you feel you are in with a shout, so I think it is going to go to the wire.

"The important thing from our point of view is that we are in the mix. It's a great place for us to be, because we've had some difficult periods during the season."

In February Albion were in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle when they trailed at home to Cheltenham.

They won with two late goals and have been climbing back up the table ever since. Even after nine matches in 29 days in March the Seagulls still have a game in hand of Oldham and Orient as well as Walsall.

It's a crucial one too, against Southend at Roots Hall next Tuesday.

Wilkins said: "I've already got the report from Saturday and apparently their 1-0 win over Walsall was a massacre, so they are in good form at the moment.

"We went there last year in the League Cup, when they were a Championship side, played very well and were leading with five minutes to go.

"I think we can sense amongst ourselves an atmosphere and aura that continues to grow and that is important within any squad. It breeds confidence and with confidence comes better results."

Albion entertain rock-bottom Port Vale at Withdean on Saturday. After Southend they visit Luton, another team doomed to the drop.

The penultimate home game versus Hartlepool and the final away match at Bristol Rovers are against sides with no chance of going up or down.

A friendly-looking run-in ends at home to Swansea and, if Wilkins' prediction proves correct, that could become a favourable fixture as well.

Swansea may well have wrapped up promotion and the title by then. Albion were in exactly the same situation in 2000-2001, when they lost 3-0 at Shrewsbury on the last day.

Orient and Tranmere face particularly tough run-ins but the big unknown is the bid by Leeds to claw back five of the 15 points they were deducted after falling into administration.

Their case will be heard by an independent arbitration panel in the week commencing April 14, by which stage Albion will have only three matches remaining.

Wilkins said: "I don't know the ins and outs. The only thing I would say is that it is a bad time for something like that to be going on and it could affect other clubs in a big way."

Recent history suggests 73 points or less will be enough for a play-off place, so four wins, a draw and one defeat should do the trick for Wilkins' side.

Can Albion make it? Or is four wins out of six too tall an order?