CRAIG Easton returns to the centre of midfield this afternoon as Town travel to Carlisle in a vital League One clash.

The 30-year-old makes his first start since January 13, at the expense of Michael Timlin, who sits out the first match of a two-game ban.

The only other change to Town's starting line-up is the return of Jack Smith, who comes in for Jamie Vincent, with the left-back dropping down to the bench.

That aside, Swindon's starting-line up is unchanged from the side which picked up three points over the Easter weekend - an impressive win at Brighton followed up by a disappointing home defeat to Leyton Orient.

There is a change on the substitutes' bench, however, with Patrick Kanyuka returning as a replacement.

Carlisle manager Greg Abbott has dropped 16-goal top scorer Danny Graham, replacing him with the much-travelled Scott Dobie.

The Cumbrians are also missing influental midfielder Graham Kavanagh.

CARLISLE (4-4-2): Ben Williams; David Raven, Richard Keogh, Peter Murphy (c), Evan Horwood; Cleveland Taylor, Chris Lumsdon, Paul Thirlwell, Lewis Neal; Michael Bridges, Scott Dobie

Subs: Tony Kane, Ian Harte, Jeff Smith, Ian Morris, Danny Graham

TOWN (4-4-2): Phil Smith; Kevin Amankwaah, Jerel Ifil, Gordon Greer (c), Jack Smith; Hal Robson-Kanu, Owain Tudur Jones, Craig Easton, Anthony McNamee; Billy Paynter, Simon Cox

Subs: Peter Brezovan, Jamie Vincent, Lescinel Jean-Francois, Patrick Kanyuka, Jon-Paul McGovern