BRIGHTON are making special preparations for their crucial Championship clash with Ipswich on Sunday, writes Derek Davis.The Albion players will stay at a Sussex hotel on Saturday night, rather than just meeting up at the Withdean Stadium for the 1pm showdown.

BRIGHTON are making special preparations for their crucial Championship clash with Ipswich on Sunday, writes Derek Davis.

The Albion players will stay at a Sussex hotel on Saturday night, rather than just meeting up at the Withdean Stadium for the 1pm showdown.

The Seagulls, who will be without key midfielder Adam Virgo, need a point to be certain of Championship survival, while Ipswich are looking for a win to keep the pressure on Wigan for the second automatic promotion spot.

The change in pre-match routine is all part of manager Mark McGhee's plan to focus his players' minds, rather than being distracted by the possibilities of Crewe failing to beat Coventry or Gillingham losing at Nottingham Forest to keep Albion up.

McGhee said: “It's such a big game. I am trying to emphasise to the boys that it is in our hands and that we are not going into this game in any shape or form hoping somebody else does something for us.

“We've got to take the bull by the horns and go and do it ourselves, so we are not missing anything we can do to help us in our preparations.

“We've got the likes of Butts (Guy Butters) who travels from Portsmouth, so we will get them to the hotel on Saturday night, have a meal, get them to their beds and be ready for Sunday morning.”

Former Millwall striker Mark McCammon could make a dramatic comeback to the squad against the Blues

The big target man has not featured since his half-time bust-up with McGhee at Burnley last month.

He was not among the 16 players named for the next match against West Ham and was ruled out of last Saturday's 1-0 win at Rotherham by back spasms.