The longest trip of the League Two season awaits for Rob Edwards' men as they travel to Carlisle United.

Here's what to expect from this weekend's trip to Brunton Park:

Meet the Manager: Chris Beech

Beech, 46, started his playing career with his hometown club Blackpool where he made over 100 senior appearances.

He then spent two years with Hartlepool before moving to join Huddersfield Town, where he played under Steve Bruce as the Terriers pushed for promotion from the Championship.

His long association with Rochdale started in 2002 where he enjoyed time as a player, youth team manager, assistant manager and caretaker manager before parting company with the club in March 2019.

He joined Carlisle in November of the same year, saving them from a potential relegation battle, finishing the campaign in 18th.

The following season started in fine fashion for Beech and his men, but a Covid-hit second-half to the campaign saw them slip from automatic-promotion hopefuls to 10th.

Key Player: Jon Mellish

United signed defender Jon Mellish on a one-year deal in May 2019.

Having adopted a midfield role under Chris Beech, he showed a natural affinity and was quickly offered a new deal. October 2020 brought more contract discussions and an agreement was reached which kept him with the club until the summer of 2022.

Jon made 49 appearances during the 2020/21 season, scoring an impressive 16 goals. 

He signed a further extension to his contract on Monday, keeping him at the club until 2023.

Form: LDLWL

28/08/2021 - Hartlepool United 2-1 Carlisle United

04/09/2021 - Carlisle United 2-1 Salford City

11/09/2021 - Crawley Town 2-1 Carlisle United

18/09/2021 - Carlisle United 2-2 Scunthorpe

25/09/2021 - Sutton United 4-0 Carlisle United

Last time out:

Alistair Smith bagged the first brace of his career as Sutton made it three straight home wins with a 4-0 win against 10-man Carlisle.

Donovan Wilson set the hosts on their way when he bundled home the opener after just four minutes.

Matt Gray's fast starters almost had a second inside 10 minutes when David Ajiboye hit a post.

At the other end, Sutton goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis did well to keep out Brennan Dickenson's snapshot.

But the hosts got a deserved second when Smith's instinctive effort nestled in the bottom corner in the 38th minute.

Chris Beech's Cumbrians were lucky not to be three down at the break when Joe Kizzi's header was cleared off the line.

Bouzanis produced a fine save to keep out Jon Mellish and Magnus Norman pulled off a superb stop to keep out captain Craig Eastmond, before Smith put the game to bed with 20 minutes to go with a well-taken left-footed strike.

Shortly afterwards, Manasse Mampala, who had earlier been booked, was sent off for a reckless challenge on Kizzi.

And the dangerous Ajiboye got his reward as he added gloss to the scoreline with eight minutes to go.

Last time we met:

Forest Green went second in League Two with an entertaining win at Carlisle, who dropped to third.

Birmingham loanee Odin Bailey's fine free-kick secured a vital three points after Aaron Collins' penalty was cancelled out by Gime Toure.

Baily Cargill saw his first goal for the visitors chalked off for offside, while goalkeeper Paul Farman had to punch Collins' goal-bound inswinging corner clear.

Callum Guy upended Nicky Cadden in the box on the hour, with Collins firing the resultant penalty into the bottom left corner.

Toure bagged his first league goal for Carlisle as he converted Joe Riley's cross in the 73rd minute after the latter turned his man on the right-hand side.

But Bailey's stunning free-kick left Farman helpless two minutes later.

Offrande Zanzala headed against the post for the hosts before Farman pulled off a great late save to deny Josh Davison at the other end.

Head-to-Head:

The two side have met eight times in the league, winning four games each and drawing the other two.

Rovers did the double over Carlisle in 2020/21, winning 1-0 at home thanks to a Jamille Matt finish and 2-1 in Cumbria as Aaron Collins and Odin Bailey found the net.

A 2019 meeting in the FA Cup saw the sides draw 2-2 at The Fully Charged New Lawn before Carlisle emerged 1-0 winners in the replay.