Defender Liam Shephard believes Brunton Park will be to Salford City's liking today.

The Ammies full-back admits Carlisle United's ground is typically a tough place to play.

But he believes Gary Bowyer's side can enjoy their afternoon against the Cumbrians.

“It’s always such a hard place to go and win there I find, but it should suit us to the ground the way we’ve been playing lately and keeping the ball," Shephard said.

Salford, like United, are aiming for their second win of the league season this afternoon.

The big-spending club won last time out against Newport, having failed to win any of their first four games of the League Two campaign.

Bowyer's side were the pre-season title favourites and are hoping to chalk up their first-ever victory over the Blues today, having drawn twice and lost once against United in recnt seasons.

Bowyer could include new signings Donald Love and Andy Smith on a day Carlisle could involve three of their own new faces in Jordan Gibson, Kelvin Mellor and Jonathan Dinzeyi.

Shephard, speaking to Salford's website, believes his side can continue climbing the table having finally got a win on the board.

“It’s such a new squad with six or seven players starting who are all brand new players, and it’s hard to actually gel within the first five or six games, it’s going to take time," he said.

"But if you look at where Bolton were this time last year, they were around the bottom and they pushed on in the second half of the season, so there’s plenty of time."

Salford are without Tom King and Tyreik Wright, who are on international duty with Wales and Ireland Under-21s respectively.