Chris Lumsdon
Former Carlisle midfielder on BBC Radio Cumbria

Image source, Rex Features

It's Barrow on top at the minute and that's what happens when you're the home team.

We've just got to weather this storm and grow into it. Don't be a soft touch.

Now Tyler Smith tries his luck and his shot takes a big deflection.

It looks like it may dip over Gabe Breeze, but the goalkeeper uses his giant frame to make sure it does not go above him.

More danger from Barrow as Robbie Gotts arrives into the box and his poke at goal comes back off the post.

The flag goes up with Tyler Smith lurking so it may not have counted.

But it is Barrow asking all the questions in these early stages and giving Carlisle boss Mark Hughes plenty to think about.

Oh, the Barrow fans love this.

Gabe Breeze throws the ball out quickly to winger Kadeem Harris, but as he takes a touch, Sam Foley senses his chance and cleans out ball and then man.

Crunch! A classic derby-day challenge.

This is probably a half-chance, but it's again for Barrow.

A free-kick is not dealt with by the visitors and it's loose near the edge of the box where Kyle Cameron tries his luck, but his curler from 20 yards is just over the top.

Jason Walker
Former Barrow AFC forward on BBC Radio Cumbria

It was a great ball by Ben Whitfield. It just shows, get that ball in early and it'll fall to Emile Acquah.

It was a great block.

Image source, Rex Features

The first chance of the game and Carlisle captain Sam Lavelle has just saved his team at the back.

A ball bounces up kindly for Emile Acquah six yards out and his volley is going in until Lavelle's block, whether deliberate or not, sends the ball just past the far post.

That was close!

Chris Lumsdon
Former Carlisle midfielder on BBC Radio Cumbria

It's scrappy at the minute but I don't mind that.

It's not for the purists at the moment.

To underline Carlisle's goalscoring woes this season, we are almost in March and their top scorer is centre back and captain Sam Lavelle, who has four.

Someone is going to have to go past him on the scoring charts if Carlisle are going to survive, surely.

Image source, Rex Features

As to be expected it is a fast start to the game.

Barrow are looking to get the ball forward as quickly as possible and turn the Carlisle defence around.

There is a large banner in the Barrow end proclaiming 'Panic on the streets of Carlisle'!

Probably fair, given their rivals' predicament at the foot of League Two as they face up to possible successive relegations.

You can probably extend that panic to Jacksonville too, the home base of the club's American owners.

There has been a cracking pre-match atmosphere at the SO Legal Stadium.

Let's hope we have a derby to match it.

The Cumbrian derby may not be the first derby that comes to mind when thinking of rivalries, but don't tell fans of Barrow and Carlisle that. For them, this is THE derby.

Tell us about any derbies you love and have attended that may don't get the attention of others, but carry plenty of feeling!

Get in touch using #bbcefl on social media, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply).

Jason Walker
Former Barrow AFC forward on BBC Radio Cumbria

If anyone is going to get a work rate out of Carlisle it'll be Mark Hughes, just as he did as a player.

He'll have them up for this.

BBC Radio Cumbria

Unfortunately due to radio rights, we cannot provide online audio commentary of this game.

However, for those of you living in the area, BBC Radio Cumbria has live coverage with both a Barrow and a Carlisle commentary team,

Barrow come into this game in 18th after successive away defeats. But victory would take them to 16th and 14 points clear of the bottom two - surely enough to start thinking about League Two football next season.

Three points for Carlisle would be huge. They would close to within two points of managerless Tranmere and go level with Morecambe in the place above them.

If they are going to launch a 'great escape', it has to start sometime soon.

Barrow boss Andy Whing wants a reaction after the 3-0 loss at Crewe - the worst display in his seven-game tenure - and as such, he has made four changes to his side.

In come Kian Spence, Sam Foley, Emile Acquah and Tyler Smith, with Kyle Vassell, Elliot Newby, Aaron Pressley and Connor Mahoney dropping out.

After a decent display in their goalless draw with Gillingham, there is only one alteration to the Carlisle team with Cedwyn Scott taking the place of Joe Bevan in support of Matthew Dennis up top.

Carlisle have had an incredible churn of players this season and defenders Archie Davies and Terell Thomas are the only survivors from the side that started in the reverse fixture at Brunton Park in August.

Image source, Rex Features

The guy in the photo would have been ideal for a derby game like this!

Mark Hughes loved the battle as a player, but as a manager, he's given himself one of the biggest battles of his career.

Carlisle are propping up League Two, five points from safety with only 23 points from 32 games and a paltry 23 goals.

This is Hughes' fifth game in charge of the Cumbrians and he is still looking for his first win.

It is two points from four games with three consecutive blanks in front of goal and that must change as soon as possible.

Hughes, a manager with six Premier League clubs is hoping that a derby encounter could trigger the lift they need.

Image source, Rex Features

Andy Whing has only been in charge of Barrow for little over a month but he has a chance to claim a huge scalp in the club's recent history.

And he has described this as the 'perfect showcase' for his players to perform.

Since their return to the EFL in 2020, Barrow have only won of their eight meetings with Carlisle and that was in the EFL Trophy.

You have to go back to 1960 for their last league success and the two clubs were not even in the same county in those days.

Barrow was part of Lancashire and Carlisle in Cumberland before Cumbria was created in 1974.

So, technically this is a relatively new derby and for most Bluebirds fans, seeing their side three points off the team from the north of the county would be a new experience.

Image source, Rex Features

Cumbria is one of the outposts of English football, but tonight it's the centre of the EFL world.

Barrow are desperate for three points and bragging rights over their northern neighbours. Carlisle, bottom of League Two, are just desperate for points.

We're here to bring you live text coverage of this crucial fixture.