Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver has said his squad is seriously depleted as they prepare to face Carlisle United.
Illness has hit the Harrogate camp in the build-up to the clash with Mark Hughes’ Blues.
Weaver said only seven players were able to train on Thursday, with others training away from the main group.
The boss of the fifth-bottom Sulphurites said certain players have been bed-ridden with flu-like symptoms.
But he pledged that Harrogate would “grit their teeth” and put a side out to try and continue some good recent home form when Carlisle visit.
“We’re looking a bit depleted at the moment,” said Weaver.
“It’s a race against time, but we’ll grit our teeth and put a team together.”
Weaver said Anthony O’Connor and James Daly had been training separate from the group after illness, having been “in bed predominantly this week.”
He is also set to be without Tom Hill to a hamstring problem, while a “late call” will be made on Tom Cursons’ fitness.
The Exercise Stadium side sit eight points above the relegation zone and ten above United ahead of Saturday’s encounter.
Harrogate sit 20th, eight points above the drop zone and ten above Carlisle (Image: PA)
At home they are unbeaten in their last five in the league, while on Tuesday they earned a 0-0 draw at promotion-chasing Port Vale.
READ MORE: Hughes calls for 'cup final' attitude from Carlisle
On Saturday they face a United side unbeaten in four as they try to battle to safety under Mark Hughes.
“It’s to be expected,” said Weaver, speaking in a club interview about fellow strugglers picking up points.
“There’s a lot of bottoming out, a lot of people facing the harsh reality of what it might look like come the end of the season if they don’t go all-in on it.
“There are some big clubs beneath us, that’s for sure, that won’t be expecting to be down there. But it’s the reality and makes every game a scrap.
“There’s going to be twists and turns to come, but as long as we can concentrate and rely on the lads to perform hard and well, and for their efforts to be relentless, it bodes well for the coming weeks.”
Weaver expects a fully committed showing from his side, as Harrogate aim to extend their seven-game unbeaten league record against Carlisle.
“Whatever team takes to the field on Saturday will be a team that expects from themselves a really good and passionate performance,” added Weaver, whose assistant is former United captain Paul Thirlwell.
“We’re five unbeaten with three home wins [in that run], we hope to make it six unbeaten with four home wins on Saturday.
“We’ll be going all out.”
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