It's an opportunity Carlisle United haven't had for a while now - the chance to make it three victories in a row.

Scunthorpe stand in the way of the Blues as Chris Beech's men bid to make further progress back towards the play-off places.

Can they follow up their wins over Crawley and Southend with another three points against the Iron?

Here's our handy look at the key details of tonight's clash.

TEAM NEWS

Striker Joshua Kayode is getting closer to returning from an ankle injury.

Beech said the striker is back running again and will be assessed ahead of the game.

Offrande Zanzala took a painful tumble at Southend and United's boss said the striker will also be checked.

There's every chance, though, that United could go with the same side that has brought them success in the last seven days.

Rhys Bennett and Brennan Dickenson's knee injuries are likely to keep them out for the season.

If Beech does opt for changes, the likes of Nick Anderton, Dean Furman, Gime Toure, Ethan Walker, Taylor Charters and Cedwyn Scott could come into the thinking - Toure having done his case no harm with a fine goal at Southend.

Midfielder Danny Devine is back from injury but yet to feature in the first-team squad. Morgan Feeney (foot) is still out.

Scunthorpe have a number of injury issues.

Left-back Junior Brown is out for about five weeks with a hamstring injury, while Kevin van Veen may not be ready to return from a knee injury.

Defender George Taft could again miss out with an ankle injury while Jordan Hallam and Harrison McGahey are again likely to be missing.

There's likely to be some ex-United involvement in the Iron side.

Three former Blues loanees are in the Scunthorpe ranks.

News and Star: Alex Gilliead, left (photo: PA)Alex Gilliead, left (photo: PA)

They are Ryan Loft, their nine-goal striker, Alex Gilliead and Olufela Olomola, who recently returned to the reckoning after injury.

FORM

Carlisle have enjoyed back-to-back wins for the first time since January and are hoping to build on that back at Brunton Park.

United's home record remains one of the best in the division in terms of wins and victory tonight would make it a dozen victories from 20 at home.

Scunthorpe, hoping to inch further up the mid-table area, have been draw specialists lately, drawing four out of their last five unbeaten games.

Signs of the Iron becoming more solid under Neil Cox have emerged in a run of one defeat in their last eight games.

Away from home, they've won six, drawn two and lost nine.

Loft is their top scorer with nine, while Abo Eisa has eight goals to his name.

Their games on the road have seldom been high-scoring affairs, with 16 goals scored and 20 conceded in their 17 away encounters.

ODDS

The bookies make United odds-on to see off Scunny tonight.

Beech's side are 10/11 with Bet365, Sky Bet and Betfair, and 9/10 with MansionBet.

Scunthorpe are 31/10 for the win with SBK, and 3/1 with Paddy Power, Betfair and BoyleSports

The draw is 13/5 with Bet365, 5/2 with BetVictor and 23/10 with SkyBet.

(source: Oddschecker)

KICK-OFF

It's an earlier than normal start for a midweek game.

Things get under way at Brunton Park at 6.30pm.

The game was originally due to be an Easter Monday fixture but, like the Southend game, was put back a day after discussions between the clubs.

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 from Brunton Park and BBC Radio Cumbria will provide commentary.

REFEREE

Samuel Barrott is the man in the middle for this one.

News and Star: Samuel Barrott (photo: PA)Samuel Barrott (photo: PA)

It'll be his first encounter with the Blues as referee.

He has overseen League One, League Two and cup games this season, his first campaign on the EFL list having been promoted from National League level last summer.

PAST MEETINGS

United will be hoping for a better outcome than in the away fixture, when Scunthorpe grabbed a 1-0 win at the Sands Venue Stadium in September.

Jordan Hallam got the winner that day after an inspired performance from home keeper Rory Watson.

United didn't get the chance to host the Iron last season because of Covid-19, meaning the last Brunton Park encounter was back in January 2013 - a 1-1 draw in which ex-Blues man Karl Hawley's Scunny opener was cancelled out by a magnificent Dave Symington free-kick.

The last three encounters in Cumbria have been draws. In fact, it's been eight home games in all competitions since United last beat the Iron, a 3-0 win in December 2001 when Soley, Stevens and Hadland were on target.

Overall, home and away, United have 20 wins to their name, Scunthorpe 29, with 14 draws.

This was a notable meeting, back in 1994, when Carlisle's play-off charge was boosted by the dramatic introduction of American midfield sub Paul Conway, who went on to score two goals in a 3-1 win. Here's the footage: