Paul Simpson looks ahead to Carlisle United's clash with AFC Wimbledon

The high-flying Blues are hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to Harrogate Town and strengthen their hold on third place.

But they must do so against a Dons side eyeing a run for the top seven.

Simpson says he has been impressed with Wimbledon’s recent recruitment, which sees January signings Kasey McAteer, Diallang Jaiyesimi and Aaron Pierre in line for home debuts on Saturday.

They start the weekend in 13th but are just three points outside the play-off zone.

“They’re not a million miles away. And they'll be looking at this as a good game for themselves to try and push into those playoff places,” Simpson said.

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“We’ve worked hard to get third in the table and we have to work extremely hard again this weekend to stay there, because we know that if we win, we will stay there and we've got to make sure that we can keep creating that little bit of a buffer between ourselves and as many teams below as possible.”

United beat Wimbledon 2-1 at Brunton Park earlier in the season but Simpson feels they are in stronger shape.

“They are a team that likes to get it up to their forward players, and with Josh Davison and Harry Pell, they're a real handful,” he said.

Josh Davison's attacking attributes make the Dons striker a handful, Paul Simpson says (Image: PA)

“They've signed some forward players in the window and have some pacy forward players.

“From what I've seen of them, they like to get it forward quickly into those forward players. And then once it gets into the opponent's half, they've got players with good individual ability, with the likes of [Ethan] Chislett and [Ali] Al-Hamadi.

“They’re a threat, they're really are, and they're very experienced defensively, especially if [Chris] Gunter plays.

“They don't take any chances. They get it out of their area as quick as they possibly can.

“So we know we're going to have to be on our game. We're going to have to work extremely hard to nullify any of their forward threats. But we're also going to have to work hard to break down what is a really stubborn defence.”

United will be backed by another big travelling support despite it being the Blues’ third-longest trip of the campaign.

The Cumbrians will be aiming for a victory which keeps Northampton Town – a point back in fourth, and who go to bottom side Rochdale – at bay.

“We've just got to make sure that we come out on top with whatever sort of game is,” added Simpson.

“If it's a battle, we've got to be strong enough. if it's a football game, we've got to show we've got that technical and tactical ability to be able to cope.”