JIMMY Case believes Brighton and Hove Albion can challenge Saints for south-coast bragging rights this season.

Not since 2010/11, when they were promoted behind League One champions Brighton into the Championship, where they joined Pompey, have Saints finished below any of their south-coast rivals.

AFC Bournemouth came close last year, only finishing below Saints on goal difference.

Now newly-promoted Brighton are aiming to go above Mauricio Pellegrino's side by beating them at the Amex on Sunday.

“It’s very nice to see them in the top flight after what they’ve been through,” said Case, who played for Brighton when they were last in the top flight in the early Eighties.

Case returned as a 39 year-old player, before a brief spell as manager when Brighton were battling for their Football League status in the mid-Nineties.

“For several years, starting soon after I moved from Brighton to Saints in 1984, Brighton were against it,” continued Case, who admits “it’s a bit strange” to see his three former south-coast clubs in the top flight together for the first time.

“Brighton supporters have been looking forward to this for a long time. I bumped into some the other day reminding me about my free kick at Sheffield Wednesday in the 1983 FA Cup semi-final.

“But my second spell there was a horrendous time for the club. It’s a similar story to Bournemouth, whose facilities now are out of this world. When I was there they didn’t have much more than a lawnmower!

“Playing at Gillingham - after their [Goldstone] ground was sold with nowhere for the club to go - was bad enough for Brighton.

“Then they had ten years at Withdean, which just wasn’t adequate at all. But they’ve grown in stature to the point where they are now in the Premier League at the Amex.”

Brighton are averaging crowds of more than 30,000 this season, more than double their average top-flight attendance in 1979-83 (they finished below Saints in each of their four seasons in the old first division).

Saints’ visit will be Brighton’s first game since their eye-catching 3-0 win at West Ham last Friday.

“Brighton have got Crystal Palace coming up and to be honest that’s the derby that tends to be most niggly for them and the team they really don’t want to lose to,” continued Case.

“Brighton v Palace is like Liverpool v Everton and Saints v Pompey. They really dislike each other.”

Saints v Brighton was developing into a feisty derby in its own right when they were familiar adversaries in League One and the Championship.

Six seasons ago, Saints’ only previous visit to the Amex ended in a 3-0 defeat, a game both sides finished with ten men.

Premier League survival will constitute a successful season for Brighton, but the Seagulls will be targeting their highest-ever top-flight finish (currently their 13th place in 1981/82).

“Brighton have been a breath of fresh air, as have Newcastle and Huddersfield, the other promoted clubs,” continued Case.

”They have a collective spirit under Chris Hughton and they defend well so there’s no reason why they can’t hold their own.

“Southampton just aren’t creating enough but after the result against West Brom hopefully they’ll start getting some momentum.

“They’ve played most of their games at home but will have more space away from St Mary’s. It will certainly be an interesting game on Sunday.”