Keith Curle believes Port Vale striker Tom Pope "is a focal point of their team" as they prepare to visit Brunton Park.

Carlisle United will be hoping to return to action today (3pm kick-off) after Tuesday's FA Cup second round replay against Gillingham was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

While the Blues were left without a game in midweek, the Valiants were in FA Cup action, losing 3-2 at Yeovil after extra-time. Both Cristian Montaño and James Gibbons were sent off in the defeat and will be suspended for this weekend's match.

Asked whether Port Vale's most recent loss would work in United's favour, Carlisle manager Curle said: "It makes it seem like that, doesn't it?

"You think factors are stacked in your favour. Would they like to travel up here? No, not after a long journey and a defeat [with] the extra excursion players would have to had to apply because of the sendings off.

"But I'm mindful of the fact they have some good players, good experience and they have been in this situation before of playing Tuesday-Saturday. Their recovery programme would have been in place.

"They are not where they want to be in the division but they have good experience, [and] have a good manager [Neil Aspin] that's got a good affiliation with the football club. They care and, ultimately, they will give everything they have got to put on a performance.

"It's down to us to play our game, impose our game on them, nullify their threats and exploit their weaknesses."

"He's a focal point of their team," Curle added on top scorer Pope who has netted 10 goals this season.

"But he's not the type of players that's going to get the ball on the halfway line, beat players individually and give the goalkeeper the eyes before slotting the ball into the opposite corner.

"He's the type of player, if you get the ball in the area, he will know where the ball is going and where the goal is. It's a case of limiting their supply and making their play as predictable as possible.

"Then, you back the defenders to deal with the threat of challenging for a predictable ball. It's then going to be a case of how quickly we move the ball and areas we can hurt them in."

Meanwhile, on the fitness of captain Danny Grainger, Curle said he had trained this week.

The Blues boss said: "He trained on Thursday, albeit in a limited training session because of the conditions.

"Danny is available for selection. He has come through the training session with no reactions."

United's pitch was due to be covered overnight.