Sunderland v Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League from the Stadium of Light - Saturday, 3pm
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler believes Sunderland will not be weaker despite the injury to star striker Brian Brobbey.
Brobbey - who scored a hat-trick against Manchester City just prior to the international break - is sidelined due to a “short-term” hamstring injury, leaving Wilson Isidor and Juan Riquelme Angulo as Sunderland’s remaining recognised strikers.
Hurzeler, speaking ahead of Brighton's trip to the Stadium of Light, said: "Yeah, Sunderland compare a little with our situation, with key players missing.
"You always try to find solutions as a coach, and the second thing, you always have good backups, or more like players who interpret the role differently than other players who have different profiles.
"So there might be some change in [Sunderland's] style of play.
Isidor can ‘attack the back’
"For example, for Brobbey, they now have Isidor. Isidor is a player who likes to attack the back with deep runs, getting in behind. So therefore it's a different profile.
"And that's the same thinking I assume that the head coach from Sunderland will have.
"To find different players with different profiles. Bring them in their best places and try to be successful. So, I wouldn't say that the team is now weaker or stronger. It's just the same team with different elements."
Third placed Brighton have made an impressive start to the Premier League season with 10 points from five matches.
Hurzeler wants to take that encouraging form to Sunderland - a place where they enjoyed a 1-0 win last term thanks to Yankuba Minteh's strike.
Sunderland will be a fight
Hurzeler added: "We have to do the basic things again, we have to step into the game and understand it's a fight. There will be a fight, there's always a fight in Sunderland, because it's just a very physical team.
"So we have to be ready for that and then we have to stick to our principles, our style of play. Then we have a chance to win it. But I shouldn't speak about momentum, because every game starts from point zero in the Premier League, because it's so competitive."
‘Very loud’ Sunderland support
Hurzeler enjoyed his first experience at the Stadium of Light last season and believes the "very loud" home supporters and "great" stadium will test his highflying Seagulls.
"Of course, when you win, the trip is always nicer," said the German. "Especially when it's such a long trip. Therefore, it was a good experience, because it's a great stadium with very loud supporters.
"Overall, a new game, a new challenge, so we go there with a lot of belief, a lot of confidence, and hopefully we can bring this on the pitch."