Gus Poyet hopes that his impressive playing record against Newcastle United will continue into his management career on Saturday, but admitted that his Albion players must be on the top of their game.
The Uruguayan scored six goals from 13 appearances against the Toon Army between 1998 and 2003 and he hopes that good fortune will continue now that he is a manager.
Poyet told seagulls.co.uk, "Newcastle were always a team that I liked to play against as a player. You might read in papers about players always scoring against a certain team and I have been lucky enough to score a lot of goals against Newcastle, which included two goals in the FA Cup semi-final in 2000.
"For me to play at the old Wembley was a unique experience and I was there doing my job I suppose. It was my strength and sometimes you have got to be lucky or to have the right players around you. I have very good memories against Newcastle so I can't complain.
"This is a cup game and you always have a chance but saying that, in terms of their quality, their performances and the way that they have been playing, you would say that Newcastle are favourites.
"That's not me trying to put pressure on Newcastle or trying to play any mind games, that is just reality. But this is one game and with the atmosphere and players' excitement, it will be a great game.
"We will need to be very good and we need to be playing the way we did against Sunderland in the Carling Cup. We were very good defensively during that game.
"We were also decent against Liverpool and that's what makes us think that maybe we have a chance. I expect Newcastle to play their best team so we need to make sure that we are very good on the day."
Poyet also paid tribute to the job that Alan Pardew has done in the North East since taking on the manager's role in 2010 and is pleased to hear his named linked with the England manager's job.
"What he has done at Newcastle is incredible. I have been watching and if you're looking for an impressive team this season, it's Newcastle.
"When a team is doing badly a manager gets the pressure and he will be sacked, so when a team is doing well we need to praise the manager as well. Alan has done very well, put together a great set of players and he deserves credit. They are a very difficult team to beat.
"It's nice to hear an English manager mentioned when it comes to the national job. I have heard for many years that English managers have not had the chance to manage the best teams in the Premier League but they are close to the top now and they are proving that they should be there."
Meanwhile, Poyet has dismissed any reports of Albion making a move for Manchester United striker Michael Owen.
"It would be a dream for this club to sign Michael Owen but it is not true. It was first mentioned a few months ago but we are trying to be realistic here.
"There has been no contact and he is not even on our list of players. We did not even think about him because we are a very realistic club. If he did want to come he could call me any time though."
