Nicky Forster admits a season of promise will count for nothing if Albion miss out on the play-offs.

Finishing seventh would be a let-down, according to the Seagulls' skipper and 19-goal talisman.

Forster, 34, has experienced plenty of play-off heartache during his career.

He was at Birmingham when they missed out on a top-six spot on goal difference to Sheffield United and lost on penalties to Watford in the semi-finals the following year.

The much-travelled marksman was also with Reading in 2001 when they were beaten in the final by Walsall and two years later, when Wolves knocked them out at the semi-final stage.

Forster is relishing the run-in with Albion and the chance to extend the season beyond the first week in May. "This is the money part of the season, where teams earn their money and managers do," he said.

"It's an exciting time. I am really energised by this time of the season. Sometimes, in January and February, you are just grinding out games and shuffling places around and that can get a bit tedious.

"This is really the business part of the season and I feel really good. I can't wait for it.

"We've had a good season - a productive season - but it counts for nothing if we don't push on and get inside that top six.

"To finish in seventh place would be a disappointing end so we have got to try and make sure that doesn't happen. It's just grinding out results. If the games aren't pretty sometimes it doesn't matter, it's all about getting into that play-off spot."

Albion launch their last six matches against rock-bottom Port Vale at Withdean on Saturday. There can only be one result as far as Forster is concerned if the Seagulls are going to achieve their aim.

"I believe Saturday's game is a must-win game," he said. "With the greatest respect to Port Vale, it's a game where we need to get three points.

"We've got home advantage but it's going to be tough. They are fighting for their lives and they are in a good run after two wins, so both teams have got a lot to play for.

"Everyone at this stage of the season has got something to fight for, whether they are right at the bottom trying to avoid relegation or at the top chasing these places like we are. Then maybe you have teams in the middle who are blooding younger players fighting for contracts, so you really won't get easy games."

Not easy games, perhaps, but certainly ones with a different emphasis. The back-to-back trips to Nottingham Forest and Leeds were more a case of must-not-lose.

Albion stretched their run without conceding a goal with those two 0-0 draws to 4hrs 22mins but they have not scored in open play since Forster's second-half winner at home to Doncaster five games ago.

"We are certainly going to have to be much more offensive than we have been over the last two games," he said. "It has been a huge team effort over the last two weeks defensively and that goes for the forwards and wide boys as well.

"They have put their shift in to make sure we have come away with a point and we might have to do that next Tuesday night at Southend but Saturday is different. It's a game we are expected to win and that, points wise, we need to win."