Predicting where Albion will get the points they need to survive again in the Premier League is hazardous.

Who, for example, when the fixtures were unveiled in the summer would have plumped for them beating Manchester United at the Amex and Newcastle at St James' Park but losing at Watford and Cardiff?

Even so, with a third of the season gone, it is easier to identify outside of the top six the likely strugglers.

In this context Albion are about to embark on a revealing phase.

One which will tell us a lot about what lies in store for them in the first half of 2019.

The international breaks in September, October and November neatly package the fixtures into blocks of four matches.

There is a long wait now until the next break in March but the Seagulls will still have short-term goals on the journey towards safety.

And there is no doubt the next four games offer more opportunities to accumulate points than the four after that.

Albion resume against Leicester at the Amex on Saturday.

That is followed, in a hectic week, by a trip to Huddersfield, the visit of Crystal Palace and another trek to Burnley.

The opponents are respectively currently tenth, 19th, 16th and 15th.

Those positions could, of course, change but you suspect not dramatically.

Leicester, one of only four teams to defeat Albion at home last season, will be tough.

The Argus: Harry Maguire (above left), one of Lewis Dunk's England centre-half rivals, will be a big miss but the Foxes are made of stern stuff.

Claude Puel's players have demonstrated strength of character and resilience to take four points from two matches since the helicopter crash after the 1-1 home draw with West Ham which claimed the lives of popular chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others.

The games against Cardiff and Burnley mattered far less than the tributes.

Leicester's leader will never be forgotten but their visit to the Amex marks the launch of the healing process.

After losing at Cardiff, Albion do not want Puel's side to become the first to beat them at home twice in the Premier League.

Nine points are then at stake in eight days in Yorkshire, Sussex and Lancashire.

Few will be surprised that Huddersfield are currently in the relegation zone.

David Wagner's side also did well to survive last season following promotion alongside Albion via the play-offs but they were widely expected to find the going even harder this time.

The rivalry with Palace will be fuelled by their perilous position. That is unlikely to improve on Saturday at Old Trafford. So much, too much in fact, for Roy Hodgson's side hinges on the availability or otherwise of Wilfried Zaha (below right).

The Argus: Prior to their short trip to the Amex, Palace entertain over-achievers turned back-to-reality Burnley, Albion's hosts for the final challenge of a stamina-sapping trilogy which will test the depth of Chris Hughton's squad.

The Seagulls may not have performed very well so far but they have done remarkably well to take 14 points from the opening dozen assignments, considering the number of stiff tasks they have faced.

They must now build on that solid foundation, not allow it to crumble with a repeat of the two points from 12 mustered from the corresponding fixtures against Leicester, Huddersfield, Crystal Palace and Burnley last season.

Particularly when you look at the four matches following Burnley.

Chelsea at home, Bournemouth away, Arsenal at home and Everton at home in the space of four days over Christmas.

The reputation of the Amex as Albion's fortress will be severely examined by the sequence.

Although Bournemouth's current position of sixth is flattering in terms of where they will probably finish, the Seagulls will be hard-pressed to match, yet alone improve upon, the four points gained from the equivalent quartet of matches last season.

There are no guarantees but it is the next quartet which provide the chance to establish more breathing space.