Walsall v Carlisle preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's League One clash between Walsall and Carlisle at the Banks's Stadium.

Walsall will assess both Adam and James Chambers as well as Jimmy Walker. Adam and twin brother James have been sidelined for over a month with hamstring and thigh injuries respectively but will be handed fitness tests by the Saddlers in the build-up to the encounter. Reserve goalkeeper Walker (thigh) will also be monitored but is unlikely to oust Karl Darlow from the number one spot. Otherwise, manager Dean Smith is not expected to have any new injury problems to contend with. Tuesday's 2-1 setback against Leyton Orient was Walsall's first defeat on home soil since the opening day of the league season, and they will be determined to put that right against a Carlisle side whose midweek clash at Bury was postponed. Carlisle manager Greg Abbott could still be tempted to make one or two changes. Striker Kallum Higginbotham, on loan from Huddersfield, could make his first league start for the Cumbrians, whose scheduled game at Bury on Tuesday night was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Abbott, who wants a positive response following last week's home defeat to Crawley, has no new injury or suspension problems, but could also recall summer signing Mike Edwards to the heart of his defence. Midfielder Liam Noble is pushing for a return to the starting line-up, while Abbott is likely to name teenagers Mark Beck and David Symington on the bench. Goalkeeper Mark Gillespie is expected to keep Adam Collin among the substitutes following his fine form in recent weeks. The Cumbrians are looking to avoid a third straight loss after following up their recent Capital One Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham with a 2-0 defeat to Crawley.