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"Carlisle are a very confident side, they are very solid. They've only conceded three goals in the league this season and it shows you a little bit about their make-up, but they can play on top of that. They've got very solid foundations as a team and they are going to make it very hard. The boys are ready and they are looking forward to it.
"We've talked about how important it is to have a strong squad and now you see why. Ferrie (Bodde) is suspended, but it's a fantastic opportunity for someone else to come in and show what he can do. Joe Allen could start because I know he is ready for that challenge.
"He is only young, but we have given him chances already because I know one day he will play in the Premiership. His age is only significant in the sense that you shouldn't expect young players to play professional football week in, week out because that could burn them out.
"We have to be careful because Joe is only 17, but he does not play like a 17-year-old. You see every day in training whether a player is ready or not, and that's why we have played Joe already. He does a very similar job on the pitch to Ferrie, but there are many ways you can play and different formations you can use.
"We have people like Kris O'Leary and Ian Craney, players who are well proven in the division, and we have to choose depending on which players will be around them as well as the opposition. It's a massive game in terms of carrying on the standard of performance we have set, but to say a win is vital would be foolish given that it's a league competition."
Swansea's match at Cheltenham last week was postponed due to City's international call-ups, with Martinez commenting on a weekend off :
"We needed to give everybody a rest. It was something that was really needed after a very busy period of football and I'm sure we can step up the intensity more than ever now. After so many games in August, and especially with the rules in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy which stopped us freshening things up, this little break has been perfect.
"We've had a mini pre-season where the boys have been able to work on certain things and it has set us up perfectly for a demanding September. You have to watch games because for all the reports and information you can get off others, there's nothing like seeing things with your own eyes.
"We played Carlisle right at the end of last season and, although the manager has changed and they have some new personnel, they have not changed a lot as a team. What they are is very, very solid and very difficult to break down. They are well organised, their work-rate is fantastic and they have a couple of new boys up front who will score goals.
"They lost for the first time against Tranmere, but there was nothing in the game and it could easily have gone their way. The result is not vital tonight, the performance is vital. We need to get back to the standard we played in the first league games and in the cup. I'm sure if we perform like that, the results will come."