Is there any hope left for Carlisle United this season?
Tomorrow's game will tell us. It's second-placed Cambridge at Brunton Park in another game the Blues could seriously do with winning, to say the least.
United's poor form has left optimism levels low among supporters. Can Chris Beech and his team find a way to lift spirits?
Here's our handy look at the key details of the clash at Brunton Park.
TEAM NEWS
It is getting increasingly hard to predict a likely United XI given all the recent changes and Carlisle's struggle for wins.
When it comes to the definite absentees, Brennan Dickenson will again miss out through the knee injury which has been scanned this week.
Joshua Kayode, sidelined with an ankle injury, has been with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s this week and it's not yet clear when he will be available again.
United have defender Rod McDonald back from suspension but Beech may stick with Aaron Hayden and Rhys Bennett at the centre of defence.
Danny Devine is back in the ranks after playing for the first time in three months for the reserves, following a knee injury.
Assistant boss Gavin Skelton suggested it may be early to consider the midfielder for immediate first-team involvement, but Devine is certainly closer to consideration.
Others hoping for a recall include Omari Patrick, George Tanner and Joe Riley, while Beech must decide whether Cedwyn Scott's two goals for the second string against Huddersfield have earned the striker greater involvement.
Ethan Walker is another player hoping for more opportunities. Morgan Feeney (foot) is still out.
Cambridge are without long-term injury absentees Dimitar Mitov and Leon Davies.
Harvey Knibbs has returned to training and could be involved tomorrow.
Among the key men in the visitors' ranks are 26-goal Paul Mullin, his influential strike partner Joe Ironside, Ireland veteran midfielder Wes Hoolahan, and a familiar face to Carlisle - left-back Jack Iredale, who was with the Cumbrians last season.
FORM
Carlisle's is well-documented and hardly needs repeating: one win in 12, a run extended by back-to-back defeats in their last two games.
Tuesday's loss to Leyton Orient also saw them fail to score for the first time at home this season.
Carlisle still have the equal highest number of home victories in the division, but Brunton Park is not the stronghold it was, the Blues having lost four of their last six games there.
United now sit 12th, nine points adrift of the play-off places.
It is a different story at Cambridge, who are second in the table and 16 points north of the Cumbrians.
Their form has not necessarily been consistent in recent weeks but the Abbey Stadium side have still picked up plenty of wins.
It is five victories and three defeats in their last eight games.
On their travels overall they have won nine, drawn two and lost seven.
They are also, ominously, happy travellers to Cumbria, having not lost in their last nine trips to United's ground.
Carlisle's last home win against the Us was as long ago as 1996, a 3-0 win under Mervyn Day when Peacock, Smart and Aspinall were the scorers.
Since then Cambridge have taken three wins and six draws from Brunton Park.
ODDS
The bookies appear to fancy Carlsle's chances of getting back to winning ways this weekend.
Despite United's shortage of victories lately, they are 5/4 for the win with Bet 365, 7/5 with Paddy Power, 11/8 with William Hill and 13/10 with Bet Victor.
A Cambridge triumph is 2/1 with many bookmakers including Sky Bet, William Hill, Boyle Sports and BetFred.
The draw is 9/4 with 888Bet, 11/5 with Betfair and 23/10 with SBK.
(source: Oddschecker)
KICK-OFF
Nothing early or unusual about this one - it's a good, old-fashioned 3pm start.
iFollow is the only way fans can watch the game, with matches continuing to be played behind closed doors because of Covid-19.
The News & Star will be reporting live from Brunton Park and BBC Radio Cumbria will provide commentary.
REFEREE
Tom Nield is the man in the middle for this one.
His last encounter with Carlisle was in August 2018 - the 2-2 home draw with Northampton, Neild showing four yellow cards that day.
Before that, it was an away game for the Cumbrians - against Cambridge. Carlisle were 2-1 winners that day in August 2017 despite the ref awarding the home side an early penalty.
PAST MEETINGS
The less said about the teams' previous encounter the better: United's 3-0 opening-day defeat at the Abbey Stadium, thanks to goals from Hannant, Mullin and Ironside.
The last meeting at Brunton Park was a dour 0-0 draw in November 2019, in Gavin Skelton's first home game in caretaker charge after the sacking of Steven Pressley.
As mentioned earlier, Carlisle have not had much joy in their home fixture with Cambridge for 25 years now.
So let's go back to their last Brunton Park win over the Us for some highlights. It's 1996, a 3-0 victory, and features a lovely belly flop by Warren Aspinall...
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