Neil Kilkenny will use pain-killers to ensure he is fit for Leeds United's Elland Road showdown against second-placed Carlisle on Saturday (12.15).

Kilkenny, whose specialist position is central midfield, has been playing wide on the right in recent weeks and is defying an ankle injury, so keen is he to hold on to a first-team place.

Barring a dip in form, Carlisle look set to fill one of the automatic promotion places, along with current leaders Swansea, and United anticipate a tough test despite reclaiming a top six place with last week's win at Leyton Orient.

Kilkenny said: "My ankle has been sore for about two months but I will take a couple of pain-killers and hopefully I will be all right.

"I was struggling last week because I got a kick on the ankle in the first 20 minutes, which restricted my movement for the rest of the game, but I've had a few days' rest since then and should be all right.

"I think the manager has put me out on the right to protect me. All the lads are playing for their places and we know that if we do well enough we will keep the shirt.

"If we keep winning and reach the play-offs I don't mind playing on the right for now. Hopefully we can take three points off Carlisle and keep climbing the table."

Left back Alan Sheehan starts a two-match suspension for reaching ten bookings so manager Gary McAllister will bring in Andrew Hughes or recall Ben Parker from his loan at Darlington.

Rui Marques and Darren Kenton have trained this week and are back in the squad but there is no place for striker Leon Constantine, who returned from his loan spell at Oldham this week.

Carlisle-born Paul Huntington will be keen to keep his place against his home-town club after helping the side keep a fourth successive clean sheet at Orient.

McAllister, meanwhile, is confident of keeping Dougie Freedman on loan from Crystal Palace for the play-offs, should United finish in the top six.

Central defender Matt Heath is to remain on loan at Colchester until the end of the season.