Keith Curle insists he has done all he can to give Carlisle United the best chance of success as the new season finally gets under way today.

The Blues launch their bid for glory with a home clash with Swindon (Brunton Park, 3pm).

United will begin the campaign with a small squad and some injury concerns but with ambitions of going one better than last spring's play-off defeat.

Manager Curle believes the season will be hard to predict but stressed that he and his staff have worked tirelessly to make the most of their resources.

"Having finished 20th, 10th then sixth, I'm sure everybody will see natural progression as finishing above that," he said.

"It is very easy to say. But the stark reality is, give me a squad with no injuries, suspensions, no loss of form or illness, and we will be very competitive and aiming for the top half of the table.

"Who's to say what's going to happen? All I will say is that everything is being done correctly.

"Medical, fitness, coaching, technical, tactical - all those things in our environment have been created to bring success.

"Along the way we will also have to earn that little bit of luck and hope go our way. But everything we get, we'll earn."

Curle is expected to include several of his new signings in today's squad, with Jack Bonham, Tom Parkes, Richie Bennett, Sam Cosgrove and Shamal George set to figure.

Hallam Hope is also set to make his first outing as a permanent Carlisle player.

Kelvin Etuhu is the only one of seven new faces to be sidelined with injury, with Jason Kennedy, John O'Sullivan and Samir Nabi also out.

Carlisle's pre-season title odds are around the 18/1 mark, with Mansfield the bookies' favourites in League Two.

Curle believes his new signings have all added something different to his squad.

He also believes Carlisle can be stronger defensively this season than last term, but also stressed the financial importance of strong backing from fans through the turnstiles.

He said: "Defensively last season, up to about 22 games our goal difference was +11 and not a problem.

"We then went through a period of losing key personnel and became easier to play through.

"It wasn't always about the defence. But I have brought in Tom Parkes, who is a good character, plays the game how I want it to be played, and can still develop.

"There might be room potentially for one more as defensive cover but we might need to be creative elsewhere.

"We might need a cup run to generate funds. It's not so much a hand-to-mouth existence but the more fans who come through the door, the more money the club can steer in my direction."

Curle admitted Macaulay Gillesphey, who has spent the last two seasons on loan with United, was still "on the radar" but played down the prospect of an immediate return for the Newcastle defender.