Chelsea will never give thanks for elimination from the Champions League, but they have at least had a period of rest after their elimination by Internazionale. Manchester United, on the other hand, showed the first symptoms of fatigue when losing to Bayern Munich on Tuesday after taking the lead. The test here for Sir Alex Ferguson is to come up with a lineup that has sufficient vigour while also containing the essential experience for a game that could go far towards determining the outcome of the Premier League title race. Kevin McCarra

Venue Old Trafford, Saturday 12.45pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Manchester United 3 Chelsea 0

Referee M Dean

This season's matches 24 Y97, R6, 4.29 cards per game

Odds Manchester United 13-8 Chelsea 9-5 Draw 23-10

Manchester United

Subs from Foster, Kuszczak, Scholes, Rafael, J Evans, Gibson, Obertan, Diouf, Fabio, O'Shea, Park, Hargreaves, Macheda

Doubtful Hargreaves (match fitness), O'Shea (thigh)

Injured Brown (foot, 24 Apr), Rooney (ankle, 24 Apr), Owen (hamstring, Aug), Welbeck (knee, Aug), Anderson (knee, Sep)

Suspended None

Form guide WWWWWL

Disciplinary record Y41 R4

Leading scorer Rooney 26

Chelsea

Subs from Hilário, Turnbull, Belletti, Bruma, Van Aanholt, Sturridge, Kakuta, Borini, Kalou, Ballack, Matic, Anelka

Doubtful Ballack (ankle), Drogba (calf), Hilário (groin)

Injured Ivanovic (knee, 10 Apr), A Cole (ankle, 25 Apr), Carvalho (ankle, May), Essien (knee, May), Bosingwa (knee, Aug)

Suspended None

Form guide WWDWLW

Disciplinary record Y46 R4

Leading scorer Drogba 24

Match pointers

• Sir Alex Ferguson has lost five of his six managerial meetings with Carlo Ancelotti

• Since 2004-05, Chelsea have picked up an average of 2.36 points per game in April, while Manchester United have managed 1.81

• Since the start of the 2008-09 season, United have won 10 of the 11 Premier League games that Wayne Rooney has missed

• Didier Drogba has failed to score in eight Premier League appearances against United

• The last four goals conceded by United at Old Trafford have all been from headers