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" It will be a tough game against Carlisle, we know that. We have had a few pre-season games against them over the past and it will be a tough game, but one that we are looking forward to. It is a competition for me, especially the way we have started this season, to get a little bit of confidence back into the side. Also players who need games, it gives me an opportunity to play them.
" Mark Duffy will be a definite starter because he has been out for three games after his sending off. We will look at other options but there will be a side out there that will hopefully give Carlisle a decent game. Wayne Curtis and Garry Hunter could do with some action and they will definitely play, Hunter, Curtis and Duffy will be the three definite starters, and it will do them good for the game coming up against Rochdale.
" Carlisle are not that far away from us and I am sure that they will be bringing a strong side as well. So it will be another test for us but we had another test on Saturday against Chesterfield, so if we can get near that performance then I will be delighted.
" I enjoyed the competition a couple of years ago when we were one game away from Wembley. We should have been at Wembley too because we played Grimsby off the park for the two games and unfortunately we didn't get there. The longer you are in the competition you are at Wembley so we will be doing our best.
" We have got through a few games on penalties over the last couple of seasons and our lads are quite confident. Jevva (Phil Jevons) has put one away last Saturday, so penalties don't seem to be a problem for us scoring, but it is the ones that we give against that I am a little bit uneasy about, but we are looking forward to the game.
" There are a couple of lads here who do want games and they are not getting games at the moment, so people going out before the window closes might be happening as well. Whether that happens before Tuesday I don't know, but the window opens again for loans a week after so there may be one or two out to get games elsewhere. "
In team news for the home side you would expect 35-year old new signing Paul Mullin to start the game, the veteran striker having moved to the Shrimps from Accrington Stanley over the Bank Holiday weekend on a one-year deal with a view to a further extension if both parties agree. Morecambe manager Sammy McIlroy commenting to the Visitor on Mullin :
"I have been looking at signing Paul since pre-season and I am delighted that the deal has finally been achieved. He is a player who has always impressed me and I am sure he will be a tremendous addition to the squad. He will bring us depth in our options up front and vital experience. But he will also add something new to the squad and will give us a different dimension to the way we play."
Elsewhere for the Shrimps centre-half and captain Jim Bentley (dead leg) and midfielder Stewart Drummond (knee) will undergo late fitness tests before the match. Definitely out though are midfielder Fraser McLachlan who suffered serious knee ligament damage in Morecambe's opening game of the season against Hereford, and recent defensive signing Will Haining who also has a knee injury.
The referee for tonight's match is Karl Evans from Leigh, and he will be assisted down the lines by Paul Curry from Morpeth in Northumberland and Andy Newell from Cleveleys, near Blackpool. Meanwhile the fourth official is Kevin Mattocks from Chorley.
If the match ends up as a draw after 90 minutes then there will be no extra-time played and the tie will go to straight to penalties. Ticket prices for the game are seated - £12 adults, £10 concessions and £5 under-16s, while standing - £10 adults, £6 concessions and £1 under-16s if accompanied by an adult, (£4 if unaccompanied). Concessions are for OAP's, students with an NUS card and the disabled.