UNITED have restored the Old Trafford fear factor and the Reds are ready to put the frighteners on City in the derby.

The last two seasons have seen the Blues go away from Stretford with a point; from a 0-0 stalemate in November 2004 and a 1-1 draw in September 2005.

City stealing points at Old Trafford was part of a damaging new trait that derailed United's title aspirations, with teams such as Blackburn, Everton, Spurs, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and West Brom also plundering points on the Reds' territory.

In the Champions League last season, the story was similar, with Lille and Villarreal both flying out of England with a point apiece.

But Ryan Giggs - who will join Bill Foulkes in second place behind Sir Bobby Charlton in the all-time list of United appearances if he plays in his 688th game - believes the Reds are striking terror in opponents again.

Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to confirm his decision to replace the Wales skipper midway through the second-half of the Benfica encounter was purely an effort to keep some freshness in his legs ahead of the derby, even after all these years, still gets his pulse racing.

"It is a great game to be involved in," Giggs said.

Important

"It is important for the fans that we win on Saturday but it is important for the team as well because of the great run we are on.

"Form always goes out of the window in these matches. You never quite know what is going to happen, that is what makes it so special."

United know victory in the lunchtime kick-off would see them open up a nine-point lead on Chelsea, who do not play until Sunday when bitter rivals Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge.

Such a deficit is unprecedented during Jose Mourinho's time in England and, while the back-to-back title winners would have matches in hand, Giggs is intrigued to know how they would handle having to make up ground for a change.

"We have been chasing Chelsea for the last couple of seasons," he said.

"Now we want to see how they react to chasing us.

Experienced

"They are a strong, experienced side and they don't make many mistakes but we are in a position to put some real pressure on them before they have that tough game against Arsenal."

United go into the derby on a high after finally ending the nail-biting Champions League tension and winning Group F to lay the ghost of last season's Euro flop.

Now United could face Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Roma, PSV Eindhoven, Porto or Lille in next Friday's draw at UEFA HQ in Nyon for the last 16.

"The first job was to qualify. It is a bonus winning the group and ending the first part of the European campaign on a high," added Ryan. "We will see whether winning the group was good. There are a lot of big teams in the draw. All the teams in the last 16 are big teams.

"Maybe the advantage will be being at Old Trafford in the second leg.

The plan is to get a good result away from home and then bring them back here: we are always confident at Old Trafford, no matter who we play.

"This is what you want to be involved in. We missed out on it last year and it was a real downer not to be involved. We will really relish it this time.

"Sometimes you need a disappointment to improve. The young lads in the team and squad have learned from last season and it will drive them on to be even more determined.

"We can put this to bed now and concentrate on our Premiership form."

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