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"After the week we have had, the players should be going into tomorrow's game with a lot more confidence. Carlisle at home doesn't look as daunting now as it did a week ago because we have proved that if we perform as well as we can then we have a chance against anybody. Another three points are a real possibility.
"We have great respect for John (Ward) and the work he has done in a short space of time at Carlisle. They are third in the league and looking to break into the top two, but saying that they are not as formidable away from home as they are at home. That is fact. Our players have the bit between their teeth and if they approach the game in the right manner and are as resilient in our defending and as dangerous as we were at Leyton Orient on Tuesday, then we feel we have a good chance.
"We all know we have a bit to do but the response from the players in the last week has been terrific. There were a lot of positives to take from Tuesday's performance. We had a clean-sheet, a goal from Nicky Maynard and an away win. It was very encouraging and if we play like that then I'm confident we won't be in any danger of going down.
"I think Neil (McDonald) lost his job there after the very first game of the season but John has come in and turned them into promotion challengers. We have always had great respect for John from the work he did with Cheltenham amongst others. We know that any John Ward side will be well organised and will come and play decent football. We know it is going to be a difficult game but we go into it with a lot more confidence following two encouraging performances."
In team news for the Railwaymen midfielder Ben Rix is sidelined with a knee injury picked up in Crewe's 1-0 win at Leyton Orient on Tuesday night, Rix having already played through the pain barrier recently with a hip problem. His place in the starting eleven looking likely to be taken by Michael O'Connor who is on the way back after recovering from a chest infection.
Striker Byron Moore is a major doubt after his calf muscle tightened up badly in the Orient victory while left-back, and Everton-loanee, Patrick Boyle has complained of a dead leg since Tuesday evening and is rated as 50-50 for tomorrow's game. Definitely out of contention though is centre-half Julien Baudet who was another 'Alex player to struggle with a calf injury in the match against the O's.
However in better news for Crewe first team coach Steve Holland, centre-back Chris McCready is able to make a return from his recent back-related hamstring problem. Meanwhile ex-Accrington Stanley winger Gary Roberts, who signed for Crewe on loan from Ipswich Town earlier in the week, will make his home debut at the Alexandra Stadium tomorrow.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Paul Melin from Frimley on the Surrey/Hampshire border, and he will be assisted down the lines by Ian Scarr from Birmingham and David Storrie from Leeds. Meanwhile the fourth official is Ian Nolan from Rochdale.