KEITH Curle insists Carlisle United can cope with the gruelling run of fixtures that will have a huge say on their promotion hopes.

The Blues’ clash with Newport County today (Rodney Parade, 1pm) is the first of nine games in just 29 days.

United have midweek fixtures in each of the next four weeks as they catch up on matches in hand.

It promises to be a pivotal period for the play-off chasing Cumbrians.

Manager Curle is adamant his squad is ready – and will be able to cope without regular rotation.

He said: “What is important is that we utilise the rest periods very well.

“The games take care of themselves, as will the preparation. Then it’s about the downtime – we have to make sure the players get the right amount of rest, and when they’re away from the club it’s how they rest and recuperate.

“But when they come in to work, they will be focused and challenged.

“In my playing days I preferred it when we had Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday, because you get into the swing of things and start looking forward to the games, and have a good understanding of what’s required with you and your teammates.

“If we can get a consistent team out week-in, week-out, that will help. If you can get a core seven or eight players starting within the next seven or eight games, excellent.”

United are today aiming to close the four-point gap between themselves and the play-off places.

The 12th-placed Blues have games in hand on most of the sides above them in League Two.

Curle will remain without Danny Grainger, Tom Miller and Bastien Hery today, with Luke Joyce touch-and-go, while Newport boss Warren Feeney could hand a debut to new striker Dean Morgan.

Curle has challenged his side to go on the sort of winning sequence that would see the Blues storm into serious promotion contention.

He said: “Within the top 10 teams, we’re the only one that hasn’t gone on a run of winning five games back to back.

“Can we do that? I think so.”

United’s boss believes today’s fifth-bottom hosts will be no pushovers.