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" I can't see (Aidan) Downes or (Danny) Schofield playing and Nathan Smith 50/50, that's how I read the situation at the minute, We'll look at he 16 man squad, hand on heart I couldn't tell you the staring eleven right now, we've got to wait right up until the last minute,.
" I like John (Ward), John and I get on very well, he took over at Carlisle when they were in a good situation and continued the good work. Obviously they will be disappointed that they didn't progress in the play-offs, but it is a new campaign now, that is all behind them. They have got off to a good start again and going to Carlisle at the best of times is always a difficult place to go, certainly to go and get a win.
" It's important that we bounce back though, and I'm sure that to be fair to John he is stressing that to his team that it is important that they bounce back. So a big game for both clubs in many ways and nobody will want to give up any ground. I think that is what I am trying to get to, is that it is going to be a tough game and nobody is going to give too much away.
" Last season it was more than cruel there because they didn't deserve the win to be honest. We had done more than enough to get a draw, infact we were 1-0 up and they have scored two late goals, one very late goal and really that was unfortunate. We had to make a few changes I believe during the game as well, we had to bring Marc Bircham off, he had done his stint. We just got a bit unsettled at the death, but we had played very well on that day and deserved more than what we got out of the game.
" I've had no real interest in the transfer window, my phone has not gone at all. I'm happy with the squad, certainly the nucleus of the squad, I think that it is very thin obviously when we take a few injuries. It is just very, very unfortunate that we have got two of our wide players out at the same time, and that is difficult to compensate for.
" We have brought a young lad in, James Dayton, to come in and boost the squad a little bit, but he is young although he will play his part over his month that he is with us. It's hard on us, it's hard on us when we lose two wide men like that, we are not in a position to bring anybody in medium or long-term that's for sure. "
As Slade has already alluded to the Glovers are likely to be still without Aidan Downes (knee ligaments) and Danny Schofield (shin) who missed the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Middlesbrough. Meanwhile striker Nathan Smith (groin) could take a place on the Yeovil substitutes bench.
During the last week or so the visitors have made two new signings. Firstly 21-year old Crewe midfielder Gary Roberts on loan until the end of 2008, then secondly James Dayton, 20, a winger from Crystal Palace who comes into Huish Park for a temporary one month spell.
The referee for this afternoon's match is Graham Laws from Whitley Bay, and he will be assisted down the lines by Scott Duncan from Newcastle and Tony Harrington from Hartlepool. Meanwhile the fourth official is Stephen Smith from County Durham.