​Brighton have been one of the standout teams in the Premier League so far, sitting third in the table with 13 points from six games. At the same time, Palace are 13th, having won their first home game of the season last weekend against former manager Oliver Glasner and his Nottingham Forest side.

​Despite the gap in the Premier League table, Sage believed Crystal Palace could raise their level against the Seagulls, and they needed to do so to get a positive result.

​“There’s only six games [played so far]. It's difficult to analyse that and to say it’s true forever.

“We just have to be aware that they are in good shape and we have to be in better shape to play in this game.

“ I know that our team is able to do crazy and positive things, and we just have to be aware that this game is special.

“When the game is special, you have to be special too.”

Whether people refer to the game as the M23 or the A23 derby, or whether it’s considered more of a rivalry than a derby, one thing is for sure: Brighton vs Crystal Palace is a match which means so much to both sides' supporters.

Sage addressed the importance of keeping a cool head in the game itself.

“Every game is a new history, and we have to write a good history on Sunday.”

“The most important thing is to understand the history, the context, why it’s like this and how important it is for the club and the fans.

“When you play for all these things, I think you can win 10%, 20% necessary in this kind of game.

“You have to be careful because when you are too active, especially in your head, sometimes you will do badly.

“You have to keep in mind that it’s football. You need energy, you need a fighting spirit, but you have to keep in mind that it’s a clever game and the tactical side of the play is really important too.”

Brighton have been quick starters in the Premier League this season, having scored eight first-half goals so far; Palace have been on the other end of the scale, conceding seven times in six league matches, which was a lesson that the Eagles needed to quickly improve according to their manager.

“The first minutes of the game will be really important because that gives the angle for this one for us.

“When you start well, you build your confidence, you build your way of doing in this context, and that’s really important.

“To start well, we didn’t do that in our last two games, but as I told you, we have to learn from this kind of lesson quickly.

“I think they will attack. I think they will continue their way of success, but if we can be their problem, we will be.”