Paul Simpson insists he’s looking forward to the challenge against a Peterborough United side who are as good a team as Carlisle United have faced this season.

The Blues head to the Weston Homes Stadium on Good Friday to take on Darren Ferguson’s high-flying Posh.

The home side are League One’s highest scorers and pose a formidable challenge to a bottom-placed United team hoping to delay their seemingly inevitable relegation.

Peterborough showed some of their high quality at Brunton Park earlier in the season even though United fought back for a creditable 1-1 draw in October.

Manager Simpson said parts of that game highlighted the calibre of opponent Carlisle will be taking on at the start of Easter weekend, at a ground where United have not won for 24 years.

“I look forward to every game because it's the next opportunity for us. And we are in a privileged position to be involved in football,” said Simpson.

“I hope that we can go perform like we did for the bulk of the [Stevenage] game [on Saturday] and make it a real good game.

“I have to say for 20 or 30 minutes of the game here, Peterborough were by far the best team we’ve faced, with the pace that they were able to move the ball…

“They were one hell of a side. It took us to half-time to regroup and reset. And then we managed to get a draw out of the game.

“But we know that we're going to be in for a tough game at Peterborough and we've just got to make sure we're ready for it.”

Friday’s contest sees the division’s highest scorers take on the side with League One’s worst defensive record.

Ferguson’s fourth-placed team have hit 74 goals in their 38 games so far – while United have shipped 69 in their 39 outings.

The hosts have won five of their last six league games and have won 11 and drawn four of their 19 matches on home soil.

The last time Carlisle tasted victory at London Road was the 2-0 win in the 1999/2000 season when two impressive John Durnin goals clinched the points for the Blues’ fourth-tier strugglers.

Since then United have lost four and drawn once in their last five visits in league and cup.

Carlisle will have one player back available for the trip in defender Seán Grehan, who returns from international duty with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s.