Brighton: Lee solidiers on with groin strain & Forster back in contention

Royle would like to give Lee a rest but can't

Royle told Ipswich World that he was waiting on Alan Lee again ahead of the weekend and that he was doing the club a favour at the moment by: "Soldiering on with a groin strain - there is no chance of giving him a rest."

Nicky Forster, who came through a Reserve fixture at Carrow Road on Monday unscathed will be in contention for a place, as will Danny Haynes, who scored Town's only goal in the 4-1 defeat at the hands of Stoke.

Royle said of the embarassing home defeat: "I was disappointed, it certainly didn't help my birthday humour.

"I was disappointed in the way we played, I mean the usual opinion came out 'they're not trying, it's the end of the season' but it's a load of nonsense our prozone statistics, our science tells us that we actually ran further, quicker and for longer than Stoke did, we just didn't put the ball in the back of the net which has been a problem for us on and off all season when we have a top goalscorer on 5 goals.

"There was certainly no lack of effort there was lack of composure and quality that we normally have in ambundance. If however, you look at the second half of the season since christmas, we have had what I would call two poor performances but that's what happens with form. Collectively everyone had an off day."

Fans turning out on Saturday will expect a much improved performance against a Brighton team that are deep in the mire of relegation worries. Should Ipswich beat their South Coast opposition on Saturday and bitter rivals Norwich lose at Hillsborough to Sheffield Wednesday, then Brighton will be relegated from the Championship.

Their midfeilder, Paul Reid is looking to cause an upset at Portman Road, believing his side can still escape the drop:

"Ipswich have not won in five games and we will be going up there hoping to make it six," said Reid. "If we win and Wednesday lose we are only four points behind.

"Then, if we come out on top against Sheffield Wednesday, we could easily get within one point of them.

"They still have to play Reading as well, which is a massive game for them. There is all to play for and we have to stay positive," he told TeamTalk.

ITFM Likely Town Line-up: (hard to predict this week as again systems will depend on the availability of Alan Lee, although he looks set to start and the fitness of Nicky Forster, who we think will start on the bench).

Supple, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Barron, Currie, Garvan, Juan, Richards, Haynes, Lee

Subs: Price, Casement, Sito, Brekke-Skard, Forster