Paul Simpson says he’s “99 per cent” settled on his starting line-up for the first game of the season.

Carlisle United have two more weeks of preparation, and two final pre-season friendlies, before the big League Two kick-off at Gillingham.

But manager Simpson said he is very close to knowing how the Cumbrians will line up at Priestfield on the opening day of 2024/25.

“I'm probably 99 per cent sure of what it's going to be,” said the United boss ahead of the last 180 minutes of pre-season action against Gateshead and Stockport County.

“We've just got to wait and see. We’ve still got two weeks left, so it's not just 180 minutes, it's two weeks of training as well.

“So we'll just keep going, we'll keep working at it.

“I have an idea of what I want it to be.”

United head to Gateshead tomorrow night for their penultimate friendly, with Simpson likely to give extra game time to players who did not start in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Rochdale.

United, beaten 2-1 at Rochdale on Saturday, go to Gateshead tomorrow nightUnited, beaten 2-1 at Rochdale on Saturday, go to Gateshead tomorrow night (Image: Richard Parkes)

The games in the north east and at Brunton Park in Saturday’s home friendly against Stockport offer the squad their final chances to impress in a game situation.

Simpson said he is now starting to scrutinise Gillingham as the countdown to the new campaign ticks on.

Speaking to the News & Star after the Rochdale game, he said: “I'll be really honest with you, I haven't started watching Gillingham yet, it's about getting us through this.

“On the coach here, I've got Gillingham's games put onto my hard drive, so I'll start looking at that and start preparing for that one as we go through this week now.

“But I think it's about us – getting our set-up right and getting our players in the right frame of mind and the right physical shape to be able to go and perform.”