Second-placed Whitchurch Alport will provide a tough test for Carlisle City, says manager James Tose.

City will travel to Yockings Park to face a Whitchurch Alport team that are still unbeaten in the early stages of the league season and have taken 13 points from their first five fixtures.

Tose’s men will come into the match in high spirits, though, after they claimed a 2-1 win against Daisy Hill on Tuesday through a Jordan Atkinson penalty and a strike from Josh Simpson.

And Tose admits it will be a tough challenge for his side, especially given the lack of options at the back at his disposal for today’s game (kick-off 3pm).

He said: “It will be a tough game. It’s going to be even tougher because we have a lack of defenders.

“I think we have Craig Benjamin [formerly Craig Cherry] fully fit and that might be about it at centre-half.

“It’s frustrating because it really sets the season up [when you have a settled side].”

Among those likely to be unavailable are striker Michael Reed (holiday), and Tom Short and Brady Wiser (work), while there are doubts over the fitness of Dan Balmer and Tyran Taylor among others.

One man to have joined the Gillford Park outfit is former Penrith and Gretna 2008 midfielder Mathew Read, subject to international clearance.

But he will also be unavailable, with the Sky Blues boss hoping that he could feature in Tuesday night’s home league fixture against St Helens Town.

Despite a mixed start, Carlisle find themselves in 11th position in the league table.

“We’re trying to sneak into the last play-off place,” City’s manager said. “I would like to think we would be able to put a few things together and get on a solid run.

“Silsden have won five out of five but we matched them in the first half [in a 1-0 defeat last month].”

Ryan Errington came off the bench in the victory over the Daisies and Tose admitted the striker’s return was a “big bonus” for his side.