Carlisle United can expect a play-off showdown with Bradford City – if data experts are to be believed.

The Blues are down to finish fifth in League Two in the latest forecast by statistical gurus FiveThirtyEight.

Their supercomputer reckons Carlisle will take three more points from their last two games.

While that, they reckon, will see them miss out on automatic promotion, it will enable them to secure a play-off finish.

And their estimates have United taking on Mark Hughes’ Bantams in the semi-finals, with the away leg first at Valley Parade before the second leg at Brunton Park.

The latest supercomputer predictions were calculated this week.

FiveThirtyEight have predicted Stevenage to claim the third automatic promotion place behind Leyton Orient and Northampton Town, with Steve Evans' side able to seal promotion with a win over Grimsby Town this weekend.

Stockport County are tipped to finish fourth, a point ahead of Carlisle.

And below sixth-placed Bradford, according to the predictions, Salford City will take the final play-off place in seventh, and as such will face Stockport in the other semi-final.

The data predictions would mean disappointment for Mansfield Town, who FiveThirtyEight feel will miss out to Salford on goal difference and by a single goal.

Should the latest forecasts prove correct, it would mean a semi-final first leg for Carlisle at Bradford on Sunday, May 14 at 7pm, with the second leg at United’s ground on Friday, May 19 at 8pm.

The data calculations give Carlisle a 90 per cent chance of making the play-offs and a 27 per cent promotion chance.

FiveThirtyEight had in late March predicted a third-place finish for Paul Simpson's side.

United can seal a play-off place by beating Salford on Saturday, while a draw would also make a top-seven finish likely.

Victory would also keep their automatic promotion hopes alive if Stevenage slip up at home to Grimsby.

FiveThirtyEight compile forecasts and 'Soccer Power Index' ratings for teams in 40 leagues, regularly updating the figures.

They assess every team with an offensive rating that represents the number of goals it would be expected to score against an average team on a neutral pitch, and a defensive rating that represents the number of goals it would be expected to concede.

"These ratings, in turn, produce an overall SPI rating, which represents the percentage of available points — a win is worth three points, a [draw] worth one point, and a loss worth 0 points — the team would be expected to take if that match were played over and over again," their website adds.