Carlisle United will face either their longest trip of next season or one of the shortest depending on the outcome of the National League play-off final.

Tomorrow's clash at Bristol City's Ashton Gate stadium sees Torquay United face Hartlepool United for a place in the EFL.

Torquay, managed by Gary Johnson, are seeking a return to the league for the first time since 2014.

Dave Challinor's Pools, who include former Carlisle man Gary Liddle, are aiming to get back into League Two after a four-year absence.

The outcome will complete the fourth-tier line-up for the 2021/22 campaign.

It will also have a considerable bearing on Carlisle's travelling next season.

If Devon outfit Torquay make it up, it will mean a 732.6 mile round trip to Plainmoor for the Cumbrians.

A win for the Monkey Hangers, meanwhile, would mean a much gentler 178.2-mile round trip to Victoria Park.

United have not faced Torquay since 2011, when they lost 1-0 in an away FA Cup clash with the Gulls.

Their last league meetings came in the 2005/6 League Two title season - a 4-3 away win thanks to a Karl Hawley hat-trick and a Kevin Gray strike, and a 2-1 home defeat when Zigor Aranalde headed the Blues' consolation.

United have faced Hartlepool more often in recent times, most lately in the 2016/7 season with a 3-2 win at Brunton Park and a 1-1 draw in the north east.

Carlisle have had a number of memorable away days at Victoria Park in front of big travelling support, meanwhile, including the 3-2 comeback win in August 2015, a 3-0 win in October 2014 and a 4-0 triumph in 2010 courtesy of Gary Madine's hat-trick and Lubo Michalik's long-range free-kick.

Torquay finished second to champions Sutton United in the 2020/21 National League, with Hartlepool four points back in fourth.

The Gulls saw off Notts County in the play-offs to reach the final, with Pools edging past Stockport.

Monkey Hangers boss Challinor told the Hartlepool Mail that victory "would mean everything".

“We all want to do it for the fans and the clubs but personally you want as many promotions as you can on your CV," he added.

“My aim since I started managing as player/manager in 2011 at Colwyn Bay was be a Football League manager.

"I’ve not had the honour to be able to do that I want to make sure that I can class myself as that by winning on Sunday, as do all the players."

Torquay manager Johnson said: "We're all looking forward to it, very much.

"It's a prize you've been working for all season. The lads have put their full focus in what we need to do and we're all determined to get this football club into the Football League."

Kick-off at Ashton Gate tomorrow is 2pm.