Luton Town: The Hatters will be without Ian Henderson, Kevin Gallen and Akanni-Sunday Wasiu who are all cup-tied having already featured in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy this season. Tom Craddock has returned to Middlesbrough after his loan spell expired and Lewis Emanuel is out for the rest of the season after rupturing his medial knee ligaments. Kevin Nicholls remains a doubt but Sam Parkin could be available for selection following Leyton Orient's decision to terminate his loan spell.

Brighton: The Seagulls are down to the bare bones as boss Micky Adams has just 16 fit players to choose from. Tommy Elphick and Adam Virgo both picked up knocks during their defeat to Leeds at the weekend. Leading goalscorer Glenn Murray is suffering from a stomach problem and Stuart Fleetwood is cup-tied. Adams also has to contend without the services of both David Livermore and Colin Hawkins.

Mick Harford (talking to lutontown.co.uk): "The first priority is to get a clean sheet. Brighton had a reversal at home to Leeds on Saturday so they'll be looking to bounce back. But we've got to go down there and be professional and start well as we know we're in for a tough game."

Micky Adams (talking to seagulls.co.uk): "When that's what you've got, you've got to deal with it as best you can and put out a team to try and win a game off football. We will be as positive as we can."

He may be advancing in years but Albion's 35-year-old striker Nicky Forster has still found the net for the Seagulls 10 times already this season.

After joining from Hull City for £75,000 in June 2007 Forster quickly established himself as a favourite at the Withdean Stadium and was made club captain in January last year.

The Caterman born forward has gone onto score 29 times in just 70 appearances for Albion including two against the Hatters the last time the two sides met at the Withdean in November 2007.

Current form: L W L L L

The Seagulls have found life tough going in League One in recent weeks picking up just four points from their last nine matches stretching back to the beginning of November.

Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Leeds United at the Withdean Stadium left Albion in 20th place and one just one point above the relegation zone.

Prior to that defeat, Brighton had picked up a 2-0 victory at Swindon Town but had lost six of their previous seven games before their win at the County Ground.

The Johnstone's Paint Trophy has provided the Seagulls with some respite from their troublesome league campaign.

Unlike the Hatters, Brighton did not receive a bye in the first round but managed to progress to the second round after a 1-0 win at Northampton way back on 2nd September.

As the Town were beating Brentford on penalties in round two, the Seagulls were also involved in a penalty shoot out beating Leyton Orient 5-4 on spot kicks after drawing 2-2 after 90 minutes.

A 2-0 victory over Swindon Town at the Withdean in the area quarter final followed, which set Albion up for a long trip to Shrewsbury in the area semi final.

In a match screened live on Sky Sports, the Seagulls progressed courtesy of another shootout win after the game finished 0-0 in normal time.

Luton wins: 22

Brighton wins: 24

Draws: 15

Brighton narrowly hold the advantage in the head-to-head record between the two sides after doing the double over the Hatters last season winning 3-1 at the Withdean Stadium and 2-1 at Kenilworth Road last April.

The Hatters last tasted success of over the Seagulls in a 3-0 victory in December 2005 with goals from Steve Howard, Warren Feeney and Steve Robinson.

It will be almost 26 years to the day that the Town last won in Brighton after a 4-2 victory at the Goldstone Ground on 22nd January 1983.

Albion came out on top the last time the two sides met last season with a 2-1 victory at Kenilworth Road which consigned the Hatters to relegation to League Two.

After taking the lead through Sam Parkin's strike four minutes into the second half, the Seagulls scored twice in eight minutes through Ian Westlake and Glenn Murray to take the points back to East Sussex.

Luton: Brill, Asafu-Adjaye, Hutchison, Keane, Davis (sub Robinson), O'Leary, Emanuel, Spring, McVeigh (sub Currie), Parkin, Andrew.

Subs not used: Beresford, Goodall, Hogarth.

Brighton: Kuipers, Whing, Mayo, Butters, Elphick, Cox (sub Martot), Westlake, Thomson, Racon, Murray, Dixon (sub Loft).

Subs not used: Reid, Gatting, Fraser.

Attendance: 6,652

Albion are currently spending their third season in League One following their relegation from the Championship in 2006 where they finished 12 points from safety.

Last season the Seagulls finished in seventh place, seven points off the playoffs and a stark contrast to their previous season where they finished in 18th place - six points off a relegation place which would have seen them relegated to League Two.

After winning the playoffs in 2004 after a victory over Bristol City at the Millennium Stadium, Brighton had two years in the Championships before their disastrous 2005-06 campaign.

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