Manager James Tose predicts Sandbach United could come in for a "shock" when they travel to face Carlisle City.

The two sides will meet today in the Reusch First Division Cup Quarter-Final.

City fell to a 3-0 home defeat when the two teams last met but Tose thinks he has a stronger squad now.

On the back of winning five of their last six games, he said: "We will take the form into the Sandbach game and I think they might get a little bit of a shock.

"We have improved a lot since they beat us last time."

Last Saturday, City travelled to Daisy Hill with 12 players but still managed to come away with a victory.

And, with two other Hallmark Security League, Division One fixtures falling victim to the weather, it allowed the Sky Blues to move into ninth place and to within nine points of the play-offs.

In what is usually a hectic period of festive fixtures, Tose's men are scheduled to play just five games in December.

Tose can see the benefits of not having a huge amount of fixtures to get through this month.

He said: "In December, there's no midweek games for us.

"Plus, we have the bonus of home games on Boxing Day and the one before New Year."

Strike duo Michael Reed and Ryan Errington will again be missing this afternoon.

But Tose added: "Dan Balmer came in last Saturday and did very well. I will be looking for the same again from him."

Michael Slack will also be unavailable again but Daniel Greenslade and David Wallace come back into the squad.

Another player who will be available is Anthony Wright after he played for Workington Reds on Tuesday.

Carlisle City were also due to find out their Cumberland Cup Quarter-Final opponents last night.

Tose added: "It's two games away from the final. The cup competitions are the best chance we have of winning some silverware."