Adebayo Akinfenwa is back in contention for Northampton as Peter Murphy returns for Carlisle.
Cobblers get Akinfenwa back, Murphy returns for Cumbrians
Adebayo Akinfenwa is back in contention for Northampton as Peter Murphy returns for Carlisle.
Akinfenwa has been out since October with a calf injury but made a goalscoring return for Northampton's reserves in midweek and should be in the final squad.
However, manager Stuart Gray is keen not to rush the key player back and after the Cobblers scored four goals last week in the remarkable draw at Scunthorpe may leave him on the bench.
Midfielder Luke Guttridge is fit again after missing that draw with a neck injury but could also struggle to force his way into the starting XI.
Captain Chris Doig remains out with his hamstring injury so on-loan Derby defender Andy Todd will make up a back three with Mark Hughes and Jason Crowe.
Chris Dunn is set to keep his place in goal despite conceding four times at Glanford Park so Manchester United youngster Ron-Robert Zieler will stay on the bench.
Carlisle news
Centre-back Murphy showed no reaction to the thigh problem which kept him out of the 2-1 defeat to Leicester as he completed 45 minutes for the reserves in midweek.
Skipper Paul Thirlwell will visit a specialist in a bid to clear up a calf injury and is set to miss out but striker Danny Graham has recovered from an arm injury.
Experienced midfielder Graham Kavanagh will continue after he extended his loan deal until 3rd January.
Simon Hackney, Chris Birchall, Grant Smith, Gary Madine and Scott Dobie are all pressing their claims to be involved.