Brighton & Hove Albion travel to the North-West to face Burnley looking to extend their unbeaten start to the Championship campaign to 17 games.

Burnley also head into the fixture in good form having avoided defeat since September 26, and they will overtake Sunday's opponents in the standings should they register three points at Turf Moor.

Burnley

© Getty Images

When Burnley began the season with just two points from three games, manager Sean Dyche may have had concerns regarding the mentality and desire of his squad after relegation from the Premier League, but since the third weekend of the campaign, the Clarets have showed that they are seemingly well equipped to earn a return to the top flight.

An impressive total of 30 points from 13 games has been accumulated during that time, while the club's goalless draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux before the international break stretched their current unbeaten run to seven matches.

Dyche may have expected a better return against opponents who have struggled during the past month, but the point enabled Burnley to remain within a win of an automatic promotion spot, a position that they can achieve this weekend providing that they can inflict a first loss on long-time leaders Brighton.

Hull have since overtaken both Brighton and Burnley to top the standings, but Sunday's game represents a chance for Burnley to do what 16 previous teams could not. Emerging victorious on Sunday would not only make a statement to the rest of the division, but it would prevent the club from falling five points adrift of a team who look likely to remain promotion rivals over the course of the season.

Striker Andre Gray will be hoping that he can continue his fine scoring streak at Turf Moor, with the former Brentford man having netted doubles in his last three games in the North-West. He still needs to improve his output away from home, but as long as he is scoring more than one goal per game at home, Burnley are unlikely to be dislodged from the top three anytime soon.

Recent form: WDWWWD

Brighton & Hove Albion

© Getty Images

Leading a team on a 16-match unbeaten run is an excellent achievement in any league, but in the Championship, it is a very rare occurrence, and manager Chris Hughton is fully deserving of all of the plaudits that have come his way since the start of the season.

After finishing in 20th place last year, Hughton would have been realistically looking at a position in the top half of the standings, but their nine wins and seven draws has meant that they have occupied a place in the top two since the middle of August.

In recent weeks though, they have had to show real character in order to maintain that record. Three draws in a row saw the club drop back into the chasing pack, but their 2-1 triumph at home to MK Dons ensured that they joined Hull on 34 points ahead of the international break.

However, the trip to Burnley is the start of a testing run of matches heading into Christmas, and while Hughton will be delighted to be averaging over two points per game at this stage, the former Newcastle United boss will be telling his squad that they cannot afford to fall below their current standards, with four of the top six coming up in their next half-a-dozen outings.

It is a run of games that will really test the physical and mental attributes of a squad who continue to perform above expectations, and while it is perhaps unrealistic for Brighton to come out of their next six fixtures having still avoided defeat, a solid points haul could indicate that they are capable of lasting the pace.

Hughton will be asking more from his strikers, with Tomer Hemed remaining the club's top goalscorer with five goals despite not netting for eight Championship games, but if Brighton can return to the South Coast with their unbeaten run still intact, Hughton may be prepared to forget his side's recent struggles in the final third for the time being.

Recent form: WWDDDW

Team News

© Getty Images

Dyche has revealed that striker Sam Vokes will be available to take his place in the starting lineup after recovering from a groin injury picked up against Wolves two weeks ago.

There could also be a role in the squad for Dean Marney, who has not featured for the Clarets since February.

Brighton boss Hughton will be able to call upon defender Gordon Greer, but forward Sam Baldock will be absent due to the thigh problem that he sustained against MK Dons.

Kazenga LuaLua is nearing a return from a groin injury, but he is unlikely to be risked this weekend.

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Heaton, Darikwa, Duff, Keane, Mee, Boyd, Jones, Barton, Arfield, Vokes, Gray

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Stockdale, Bruno, Hunemeier, Dunk, Rosenior, March, Stephens, Kayal, Crofts, Murphy, Hemed

Head To Head

The two clubs have only met on 27 previous occasions and their head-to-head record is close, with Brighton winning 10 times compared to nine for Burnley.

As far as the most recent fixtures are concerned, Brighton currently hold a four-game unbeaten record, but the last match between the teams in January 2014 ended in a goalless draw.

In six contests that have taken place at Turf Moor since 2002, Burnley have won just once, but three of the other five clashes have ended in stalemates.

We say: Burnley 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

With Burnley boasting one of the best home records in the second tier and Brighton currently possessing an eight-game undefeated streak on their travels, it would not be logical to back anything other than a draw. Burnley could have the edge in the final third, but the visitors have had two weeks to recharge their batteries and could hold out for a point.

Previews by email