After receiving scouting reports that could spread fear in the Plymouth camp, Sturrock said there was no way United would be relegated this season.

Ten-man Carlisle's controversial 3-2 defeat to Hartlepool on Tuesday night was their first in the Third Division since mid-December.

Sturrock, who took over at Argyle in November after Kevin Hodges and Carlisle-born Steve McCall were sacked, said: "I have spoken to a number of managers and contacts I have in the north and they all agree that Carlisle will not finish bottom."

Sturrock's comments will be another confidence boost to Ian Atkins's revitalised side, who sit just one place off the bottom of the Football League.

Former Scottish international Sturrock added: "We have got to go there and give it our best shot and we have to realise we will not be defending for 90 minutes. We have been working on that aspect in training this week.

"Carlisle are a big and physical team and they play with plenty of positive intentions. Their recent form has been much improved and they have caught up with several teams. Obviously, this will be a very difficult game for us."

Plymouth's last win outside their home county - they have won at both Torquay and Exeter - was at Chester on November 6, 1999, a win-less run stretching to 25 games.

Tony Hopper could go straight into the Carlisle squad today. The midfielder, who re-signed for the Cumbrians this week, could claim a place on the bench in what is likely to be an otherwise unchanged United side. On-loan Darren Carr is likely to keep his place ahead of Mark Winstanley in defence.

Atkins is toying with the idea of switching to a 4-4-2 formation, a move which would put Gordon Connelly and Anthony Hemmings in contention for starting places, but will probably stick with the three-central defender policy that has helped Carlisle turn around their ailing season.

Plymouth are without top scorer Sean McCarthy, who is suspended for the trip north.

Grecians travel to York in vital clash

The two teams above and below Carlisle in the table meet today in a crucial relegation "six-pointer" at Bootham Crescent.

York, who have not won in six games and have scored just once during that run are at home to bottom-of-the-table Exeter, who are unbeaten in their last three.

Exeter are still unable to sign players following chairman Ivor Doble's decision not to pay back a £65,000 PFA loan this week. Manager Noel Blake is keen to sign two players on loan but the Devon club are still strapped for cash.

The Minstermen will field striker Lee Nogan, signed from Luton earlier in the week. They sold defender Darren Patterson to Oxford to help finance the deal.

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