SIX of the best they might be. Perhaps that’s one for February 25.

Between tomorrow and then Albion take on half-a-dozen games which will go some distance towards establishing whether the final months of the season will be a battle against the drop or a more leisurely stroll through mid-table.

Albion start the run with a home game against Norwich – when they will be bidding to become the first club to do the double over Paul Lambert while he’s been boss at Carrow Road.

That’s followed with a trip to Stoke.

Surely, Albion must be due a change of luck against Tony Pulis’ bruisers sooner or later?

That’s followed with the obligatory annual midweek trip to Fulham, a home visit of Swansea, a hop down the A41 to Molineux before the six games are rounded off with the home clash against Sunderland.

Not easy games by any stretch of the imagination, but matches Albion will be seeking to take points from.

The expectation will be there. And points would be welcome.

Keith Downing this week revealed that managers, coaches and players are conditioned to trot out the cliche about taking each game as it comes.

But even he admits that Albion cannot afford to be wasteful or negligent.

“We are in agreement that it’s six games where we could get away from that relegation zone or we could be dragged into it,” said Downing.

“So there is an importance to them, but we don’t put them on a board and say ‘three points here’, ‘three points there’ because you have to be careful you don’t set too many targets.”

Downing has a point, but one thing is certain – the need for Albion to change their ways at home.