Aitor Karanka has made three changes to his Middlesbrough team for this afternoon's top-of-the-table Championship showdown with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Tomas Kalas, Adam Forshaw and Diego Fabbrini drop out from the 1-0 win over Burnley on Tuesday, with Grant Leadbitter, Albert Adomah and Christian Stuani coming in.

Boro enter the match ahead of Brighton on goal difference at the top of the table having not lost in five games, winning four and keeping a clean sheet in each.

Hosts Brighton, who are still unbeaten after 21 league games of the season, have been forced into one change.

Lewis Dunk was sent off for two yellow-card offences at Queens Park Rangers in midweek, so Uwe Huenemeier deputises in central defence.

Brighton & Hove Albion: Stockdale; Bruno, Greer, Huenemeier, Calderon; Van La Parra, Stephens, Kayal, Murphy; Hemed, Wilson
Subs: Maenpaa, Goldson, Chicksen, Crofts, Ince, Manu, Zamora

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Leadbitter; Adomah, Downing, Stuani; Kike
Subs: Mejias, Amorebieta, De Pena, Kalas, Fabbrini, Forshaw, Zuculini