Manchester United's recent return to form, courtesy of back-to-back victories against Olympiakos and West Ham United, will be tested by the visit of neighbours and rivals Manchester City.
United's brace of victories on the back of a 3-0 thrashing by Liverpool in their last home league fixture has lifted the mood around Old Trafford, but with just one win against the top nine teams in the Premier League plus a 4-1 defeat by City in September's corresponding game, manager David Moyes has admitted his side cannot afford to let standards slip.
"We we want to try and perform better in the bigger games than what we have done," Moyes said. "It will be important for us to show the level of what we have got.
"We will do everything we can to win. We go out to win every game, not just the derby game. Obviously it means a lot more to the supporters and the city if you win a derby game."
Ominously for United, City are unbeaten in their last eight away matches and have won six of them, while a 5-0 home victory against Fulham sent them third in the table with a third consecutive victory.
Form, both in derby matches and overall, points to a City success, but City boss Manuel Pellegrini rejects the idea his side are expected to take all three points.
"I don't think we are favourites in any game," he said.
"We are in a good moment but we are playing against a big team in their own stadium, so I don't think we are the favourites.
"Of course we always expect to go and win every game but, I repeat, just because Manchester United have had a difficult season it does not mean we are going to win. We have to go there and play a very good game."
Man utd must win tonite oooo
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