Carlisle defender Peter Murphy is a major doubt for the home game with Bournemouth due to a hamstring injury.
The central defender was forced out of the action midway through the second half of Tuesday night's home win over Oldham and was replaced by Danny Livesey.
Livesey will return to the starting line-up alongside Mike Edwards if Murphy fails to make it, but that would leave manager Greg Abbott with just two senior centre-halves.
Abbott has no other new injury or suspension worries and could soon be boosted by the return of three key players before the turn of the year.
Striker Rory Loy, who broke his leg in December, will return to training next week and fellow forward Lee Miller, sidelined with an ankle injury since mid-August, has been told to step up his rehabilitation.
Miller has targeted a return to action in the new year, while winger Jon-Paul McGovern, who has missed the last five matches with the recurrence of a hernia problem, is also expected to team back up with the first-team squad next week.
Bournemouth are sweating over the fitness of Lewis Grabban.
The summer signing from Rotherham has been struggling with an ankle injury sustained in the victory over Tranmere which forced him to miss Tuesday night's 3-3 draw at Notts County.
Eddie Howe does not have any fresh injuries worries for the Cherries' second away game in five days.
Richard Hughes' hamstring issue means he is not being considered while long-term absentees Charlie Sheringham (foot), Darryl Flahavan (shoulder) and Stephen Purches (broken leg) remain on the sidelines.
Howe is yet to taste defeat since returning to the south coast having taken four points from his first two games against the teams first and fifth in npower League One.
Source: PA
Source: PA