Aleksandar Kolarov is pushing for a place in the starting line-up following his recovery from an ankle injury, although Mancini might think twice about putting him in for such an intense occasion after a lengthy lay off.
City's midfield warrior Nigel de Jong says he has detected the tension levels rising in Manchester ahead of tonight’s match.
But the Dutchman is aware that he has to remain focused and disciplined in a game rivalry with a history of heavy challenges.
De Jong has had to rein in his naturally aggressive game since the furore surrounding his leg-breaking tackle on Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa last month – his only yellow card since then was for deliberate handball early in the win at West Brom on Sunday.
But he will be tested to his combative limit by Darren Fletcher, who has come as close as anyone to filling the void at Old Trafford left by Roy Keane.
The Scotland international is not a midfield general in the truest traditions of Keane, Bryan Robson and Paul Ince – but he is the man Sir Alex Ferguson looks to when it comes to stamping United’s authority on the middle of the park.
So desperate was de Jong not to miss the derby, he played the rest of the game against West Brom with one eye on avoiding a second booking, to ensure he would be available tonight.
“If you get a booking in the first five minutes you have to watch your game, get more disciplined and not get carried away in certain situations,” said de Jong.
“So I am happy to be free to play against United and start it all again.
“You feel the edge in these games.
“We were playing West Brom on Sunday, and everyone was talking about the derby, and have been for two or three weeks.
“We know when it’s coming and in the build-up towards the game you can feel the tension in the city among the fans, among the players, and among the whole club.
“There is that extra edge and as a player that gives you the spirit to play that little bit harder on match day.”
De Jong will be a crucial figure in the battle – on Sunday he shored up a City defence which had uncharacteristically leaked eight goals in its previous three games.
Now he, Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure need to overpower the Reds’ midfield, as they did to champions Chelsea.
United’s preparations have been thrown into turmoil by the flu bug which has ravaged their squad, but de Jong says nothing can detract from the size of the occasion.
“The derby is always one of the biggest games of the season, but for United as well as for us,” he said.
“Everyone knows what’s going on between these two teams, and this season it will be even bigger.
“They get bigger and bigger and bigger, especially if you believe the speculation that was in the newspapers last week!
“It’s a good thing for City because it shows we are getting bigger as a club.
“My message to City fans is to keep supporting us – they are always a helping hand as a 12th man, especially at the derbies.
“I’ve played in a couple of derbies now and they are always a massive support for the team.
“The players want them to know the confidence is still there in the squad, and we want to give them a piece back on the pitch on Wednesday.”
De Jong was the latest player to rubbish talk of a big rift in the unity at City, and said that had been partly dismissed by a good team performance at West Brom.
“Everyone has focused on Manchester City over the past couple of weeks, and we obviously haven’t had the best results,” he said.
“But the West Brom result proved a point, that we are still a strong side.
“The confidence is there, in the players and the staff, and we are still sticking together as a team.
“Sunday’s result gives us great confidence going into the next game.
“Overall, it was one of our best performances of the season, as a team.
“We defended very well, and looked very strong up front, especially in the first half, but the whole team takes credit.
“There is plenty for us to take into the next game.”
Sir Alex Ferguson is crossing his fingers that the virus that has swept the Manchester United camp since their return from Turkey last week does not wreck their chances.
After losing several key players for the weekend win over Wolves, Ferguson had to send more home from training yesterday and admits he has no idea what the make up of his side to face Roberto Mancini's men at Eastlands will be.
In addition, Ryan Giggs and Owen Hargreaves (both hamstring) are definitely out, while Nani (groin) is rated extremely doubtful to recover from the injury he suffered in Turkey last week.
Manchester City (from): Hart, Richards, Zabaleta, Bridge, Lescott, Boyata, De Jong, Vieira, Barry, Johnson, K Toure, Y Toure, Tevez, Silva, Adebayor, Kolarov, Given, Milner, Kompany, Boateng.
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Rafael, Brown, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Obertan, Bebe, Carrick, Gibson, Scholes, Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Park, Berbatov, Hernandez, Macheda.
City league form: WWLLW
United league form: DDWWW
Key opponent: Paul Scholes - a veteran of the derby and a local lad, Scholes still has the class to break City hearts
Prediction: City 1 United 1 - City might have more of the game at home and given United's injury list, but the unbeaten Reds will be tough to crack
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
Click here for all the latest odds from Betfred.
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3-1 United, as City are all talk and no trophies (Sorry Trousers).
34 Years
city will win this one. 2-0
why is Taggart still wittering on about the poster of Tevez last year...he really is embarrasing himself and his club keep going on about it, still, it shows one thing, the poster got right under his skin!
City need to go out tonight and be positive, look to win the game and press the redsox back line, if we win the battle in midfield, keep Scholes quiet, we will win the game. It will be a close game, but I think City will just edge it.
I hope we'll finally overtake United tonight. But to be fair we've never won so-called showdown -tense games.
Remember
v Hamburg 08-09UEFA CUP Quarter Final 2nd Leg
v United in September 2009
v United Carling Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg
v Stoke FA Cup Quarter Final Replay
v United in April
v Spurs in May
It's no doubt this team has progressed but I still don't think they've got a winning mentality yet.
I can see they'll end up with scoreless draw if they sit back for 90 minutes but I don't think this side can go out and manage a result against United.
If we're to win such a tense game, we'll probably need a better manager -we don't need a loser who insists Chelsea will win the league.
So I'll go for 0-1 lose to United again.
Let the battle begin!!
Come on you Blooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooz!
Are we still planning to restrict the amount of scum we are letting into the ground tonight due to their persistent standing?. Thought I would bring this to your attention before we get the saddos coming on after the game telling us it was not a sell out.
3-1 to City, we have to much power for them. They we're awful against Wolves at home and have got away without losing so far. Not tonight though.
Iv'e just read an article on the united official website in which Tony Coton compares the 2 squads. He concludes that in the goalkeeping dept the teams are eqally matched, in defence he says that Vidic is the main man, in midfield Scholes and in attack Wazza! -so to summarize - goalies even, defence - flu bug hit Vidic, in midfiled - flu bug hit Scholsey and in attack wazza who has been deported to get him of Fergis sight! lol!
3-1 City, as United are steeped in terminal decline and debt.
1910 Mancunian Purification
I'll settle for the same score as last time we played them on november 10th in 1994 thursday night. Coincidently that was also the last time you heard the half wits mention we beat ya 5-1. Which is what they had been reminding us for the previous 5 yrs. Intresting number that 5 keeps popping up. Five goals tonight, ugly betty 1st goal UNITED 3-2 ( 160/1 ) corals. WRAP UP ITS A COLD UN!!!
Team for tonight:
Michael Johnson.
The "unbeated reds" are extremely lucky to be able to call themselves anything like. If their outrageous luck finally deserts them tonight, City will vapourise their unbeaten run with great delight.
City 3 - 1 nited. De Jong, Tevez and Wright-Philips to score for City. Little pea to cheat and dive in the box again to win nited a penalty.
Manchester City should force Manures goalkeeper to play the ball long by playing the attackers as far forward as possable,marking the defencers
Same side as WBA but I'd bring AJ in for Mario. Pace and width complemented by Sliva playing killer balls through the middle. Don't start slowly!!!
Notice there are no rdes now playing the Liverpool is our real derby card. Manchester the Capital City of Football.
Mancs are Blue (10/11/2010 at 11:27) don't rule 'wazza the wedge' out until you actualy see his name missing from the team sheet
Yeah, I've just seen him waiting for his luggage at the baggage carousel at Terminal 2 whilst phoning Fergie to tell him to come and pick him up - pronto!
ROAR like LIONS tonight guys, let's frighten them rigid, be the 12th man and support the team and manager,it really does give them extra confidence lok what it on sunday at wba.
Lets become The Noisiest neigbours they 'll ever come across , and the best supported team in the country.
ROARING ALREADY
No matter who the rags select tonight, we will have a game on our hands. Our attitude must be right, with strong determination, a will to win and a lot of patience - and that's just the fans!
Let's make a great atmosphere (calling Russ Abbott), get behind the team and see a great victory. Come on!!
Expect the scum to employ the same tatic there always do when they come to city. kick out most dangerous player time and time again. Past three years it has happened. also expect evra to get let off with about 6 fouls after a yellow card, and expect rio to argue with the ref every decision that goes against untied, no matter what.
Cant wait to put one over on these mugs, play to the final whistle boys, challenge for everything, sit somebody on scholes and smash there midfield back to london.
No predictions from me for this one but I want to wish Roberto and the boys a great night and hope they fight right to the end of Fergie time.
It would be nice if we dont hear of any fans getting beaten or stabbed. The writers on these pages and other tabloids are very irresponsible and add to the hostile mood of such a game and for me it spoils the occasion for the real football fans. Lets hope they don't have blood on their hands and Fergie is no better with his comments, and him being a sir too. Such a class act!
Can the queen reverse her decision when a sir doesn't live up to the honour?
who's the ref ?
City 6 Rags 0(once in my lifetime)........4hours and twenty five minutes to go.........
Time to believe, Time to deliver. Come on blues. CTID
Manchester evening news, it looks you you have put the flu epidemic in the quad.
Once CITY get the first goal then it's fasten your seats belts for a probable 3-0 4-0 to CITY.
As long as we don't feel sorry for them then we will win. Keep plenty in the take for fergie time.