Chris Hughton has urged Brighton to seize the opportunity of a potential run to the FA Cup final.
On Wednesday they visit Sky Bet Championship side West Brom in their fourth-round replay, knowing that Liverpool and Tottenham are among the multiple Premier League teams already eliminated from the competition.
The winner will progress to the last 16 against Derby, also of the Championship, and with his team's Premier League status appearing secure, Hughton wants to take advantage.
"There are a lot of Premier League sides out of the competition now, so there is an opportunity for teams to progress," he told the club's official website.
"But you can't go into a game thinking a match will be easy, because as soon as you do, you won't get through to the next round.
"I see it opening up for some who are not the favourites though, and that's the great thing about this competition.
"It's a big challenge for us up against a side who are doing well in the league; they'll be giving it everything to get straight back up to the Premier League and they've brought in some good players during January.
"They have a good squad. We should have won the first tie at home but now we have another opportunity to do so. It will be a very difficult game and we know that, but it's one we'll be looking to win.
"The biggest thing for me is the competitive squad that I currently have at my disposal.
"It's the most competitive we've had it throughout my time here at the club, even with the few injuries we have at the moment. You have to be able to use that squad and use the competition; that will always be the case."
Amid Jose Izquierdo's knee injury and doubts surrounding Dale Stephens' fitness, Bernardo is in contention to return at West Brom, where Alireza Jahanbakhsh will also start.