KEITH Curle wants to use tomorrow’s game with Oxford United as a test of what Carlisle United need to improve to emulate Michael Appleton’s side next season.

The Cumbrians have made progress in this campaign, going from a side who finished fifth bottom in 2014-15 to challenging for the Sky Bet League Two play-offs.

Their top-seven hopes were ended last weekend, despite winning 1-0 at Crawley Town.

Curle is aiming to put Carlisle at the sharp end next season, so the visit of a United side in the automatic promotion places tomorrow offers a useful comparison.

He told the News & Star: “We want to play football – entertaining, attractive, attacking football that results in us scoring goals and winning matches.

“That’s a bedrock of the philosophy we want to bring, and that starts against Oxford - and it’s an opportunity to pit ourselves against a team who are where we want to be, ultimately.

“Can we show them we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with? I think we can.”

Carlisle’s season was interrupted by flooding which prevented Brunton Park from hosting a match for several weeks during the winter.

U’s boss Michael Appleton thinks without the upheaval, Curle’s men might still be in the play-off mix.

He said: “It had to disrupt them in some way so there’s no doubt it would have played some part in them missing the play-offs.”