Brighton's return to Europe sees them head into the Arctic Circle to face a tricky challenge against seasoned Norwegian triers Tromso.
A place in the league phase of the UEFA Conference League awaits the winner of this two-legged play-off tie, with the second leg back at the Amex next Thursday.
Fabian Hurzeler's men are solid favourites to take a lead back to Sussex, but they know they are in for a challenge, with key players missing, on an artificial pitch, and with summer rust still to shake off.
And the Seagulls will have sat up and taken notice of Tromso's 7-1 aggregate demolition of decent Romanian outfit Cluj to set this encounter up.
Tromso v Brighton Tips Summary
Best Bet - Tromso or Draw Double Chance @ 6/5
Alternative Bet - Both Teams to Score @ 8/11
Bet Builder - Heine Larsen anytime goalscorer, Over 3 Tromso Corners, Over 2 Goals @ 15/2
Tromso v Brighton Prediction
Best Bet - Tromso or Draw Double Chance @ 6/5
It seems far too early in the season to be piling into Brighton at odds-on, on the road, and up against an opponent they really don't know.
Fabian Hurzeler's men, back in Europe after finishing eighth in last season's Premier League, are missing last term's top scorer, Danny Welbeck, and key wingers Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh, both injured.
The artificial pitch is the literal definition of a leveller, and Tromso are midway through their season.
The Boys, who battered Cluj 7-1 to get to this stage, are third in the Norwegian top flight having lost just one of nine home matches and are clearly ready for battle.
Albion's pre-season went well in terms of results but it was exactly that, pre-season.
Several players are not quite up to speed, others are injured, one or two still being courted by other clubs, Jack Hinshelwood included, and this looks like a perfect opportunity to lay the English side.
Alternative Bet - Both Teams to Score @ 8/11
Tromso have scored 26 goals in their last eight games and while it's easy to be quizzical about the standard of opposition, the likes of Hradec Kralove, Cluj and Molde are good teams.
Jorgen Vik's men try to be positive with the ball but also intense without it - rather like Brighton - and have players who can score goals.
For Brighton, of course, Welbeck's departure means their sources of goals are less clear.
Hurzeler will lean on Hinshelwood and Georgino Rutter and between them - with the help of others - you would imagine that they can at least find the net once.
Tromso v Brighton Bet Builder Tip
Heine Larsen anytime goalscorer
Over 3 Tromso Corners
Over 2 Goals
Pays 15/2
Make Tromso's Heine Larsen to score at anytime the real odds-boosting element of your Bet Builder.
Larsen is in seriously good form with eight goals in his last eight appearances and clearly knows how best to work the artificial pitch to his advantage.
Tromso won nine corners at the Romssa Arena against Cluj so be sure they can clear the three-corner mark against any side, including one as decent as Brighton.
Finally, over two goals. Tromso are a positive team, with seven of their last eight matches producing three goals or more.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Tromso have already played four European matches, losing 4-1 on aggregate to Czech side Hradec Kralove in the UEFA Europa League and then crushing Cluj of Romania 7-1 in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League
Tromso are third in the Norwegian First Division and they have won six of their nine home games with six clean sheets
Brighton play their first game of the season having won all four of their summer friendlies
The Norwegians warmed up for this assignment with a 3-2 loss at Molde at the weekend
Brighton finished last season with seven wins in their final 12 games to finish eighth in the Premier League
Tromso's Heine Larsen has scored eight goals in his last eight games
Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
