Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Crystal Palace face rivals Brighton & Hove Albion at Selhurst Park on Friday evening in the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final.

Palace booked their place in the playoffs on the final day of the season by beating Peterborough United 3-2, which was their first win in six games.

Brighton come into the match joint top of the Championship's form table, having won four and drawn two of their last six matches. Gus Poyet's men warmed up for the playoffs by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 last weekend.

Palace boss Ian Holloway guided Blackpool to the Premier League via the playoffs in 2010 and he will be hoping to repeat the feat with Palace. He is expected to name the same XI which beat Peterborough last weekend, with top scorer Glenn Murray expected to start against his former club.

Poyet could name the same side which saw off Wolves, with Leonardo Ulloa retaining his starting place up front. Will Buckley, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury, could be fit enough to start.

Recent form

Palace: DLDDDW

Brighton: DWDWWW

Possible lineups

Palace: Speroni; Ward, Delaney, Gabbidon, Moxey; Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Garvan; Zaha, Bolasie, Murray

Brighton: Kuszczak; David, Upson, Greer, Painter; Bridcutt, Crofts, Vicente; Buckley, LuaLua, Ulloa

Sports Mole says: 1-1