Captain Danny Grainger has insisted that he and his Carlisle United team-mates are continuing to give everything for the cause - even as uncertainty over their future goes on and their play-off hopes hang by a thread.

The Blues host promotion-chasing Luton tomorrow where anything other than a win could well spell the mathematical end of their faint top-seven hopes.

The backdrop to United's run-in remains the doubts hanging over the future of manager Keith Curle and a host of senior players, Cumbrian skipper Grainger included.

The defender, though, says that does not mean the players are holding anything back on the pitch.

"Some people are talking about [whether we are] flying into tackles - but you ask any of the lads, if there's a tackle to be won, they win it." he said.

"That goes for every single one of us.

"If the worst happens, it happens and you move on. But part of my job as captain is making sure everyone is ready to train, play and have their head fully focused."

Tomorrow's opponents will book their place in League One with victory, while many supporters' focus at Carlisle is on the big managerial decision that is looming.

Grainger said it would be "disrespectful" to speculate on Curle's situation, though pointed out that the manager has led United in play-off challenges after first taking charge when the club were adrift at the bottom of League Two in 2014.

On his own position, meanwhile, the man from Eamont Bridge said he wants to stay but now is not the time to try and "force the club's hand" on a decision.

While he admitted he still has "no idea" on whether he will be offered a new deal, he added: "I would always give the club the chance to let me know first. I've spoken to my representatives and said that to them. I'm not interested in anywhere else at the moment.

"I've always said that I want to finish my career here. I'm settled here, my roots are here and have other things going on in the background. If the club no longer need or want me here then fair enough, I'll shake everyone's hand and move on.

"There will be a point where I ask the question and will need an answer but I'm not going to try and force someone's hand when we've got three games to go and still a chance of getting in the play-offs."

Last week Curle said he held a meeting with players after "slight discontent" had filtered into the dressing-room.

"It's part and parcel of this time of season," Grainger said. "Yes, there are things going on that we'd like answers on, sooner rather than later, but we're more focused on the football. We want the club to do well. If the club does well it shines well on us.

"There was a meeting last week, and a few things cleared from ourselves and manager, but that wasn't just things behind the scenes, it was things on the pitch as well. It was a meeting we wanted to make sure we had so we knew what our aims and focuses were."

On the fate of several colleagues who also don't know where they will be playing next season, Grainger added: "It's not a young group - we've got a lot of lads with kids, families, mortgages and all they've asked for is a bit of clarification on what people's thoughts are going forward.

"There's nothing we can do. Contractually we're obliged to be here until the end of June; they [the club] don't have to tell us anything until the middle of May, so we're just doing our job. It's part and parcel of the game and you move on with it."

A big travelling support is set to descend on Brunton Park as Nathan Jones' men go for glory, but Grainger said Carlisle, who have lost just once in 11 despite their play-off bid flagging with too many draws, want to spoil the Hatters' promotion party.

"We had it with Oxford [celebrating promotion at Brunton Park] a couple of years ago and we don't want that happening - it's hard to watch other teams celebrating when I think we should be in and about where they are," the captain said.

"Hopefully we can be party poopers and keep our own season alive. We'll keep going until it's mathematically impossible. We know it's a big ask but stranger things have happened.

"Games between us and Luton always seem to have a bit of an edge to them for some reason but it makes for a good game and showcase for all the fans coming to watch."