Alex Ferguson has no fears about his team handling the white-hot Maine Road atmosphere tomorrow as Manchester United look to extend a 15-match unbeaten league run against bitter rivals City.
Ferguson and his team have not tasted defeat in derby combat since the famous 5-1 humiliation early in his reign as Old Trafford boss, after which he questioned whether he would ever make a success of the job.
The granite Scot has long since wiped away those fears, much to the despair of Manchester's Blue brigade, whose team have become one of United's favourite whipping boys over the past decade.
And, the usual intensity is sure to be heightened because of the down-turn in relations following the fall-out from Roy Keane's disclosure that his tackle on City's Alfie Haaland in the last meeting between the teams was an act of revenge.
Anti-Keane T-shirts have been doing a roaring trade at Maine Road over the last few weeks and although the Irishman is unlikely to venture anywhere near the ground, he is almost certain to be the butt of some abuse.
With United legend Peter Schmeichel also awaiting a frosty reception after moving to City from Aston Villa during the summer, an occasion charged with emotion at most peaceful of times, is sure to be heightened.
Ferguson though remains unperturbed.
"The atmosphere will not be a problem to us," he said. "My team have played on the biggest stages and they are used to it now. There is more noise when we go to Anfield and Elland Road because they are bigger stadiums.
"Derby games are always quite tense and exciting but we have dealt with them well over the years and we will treat the game exactly as we have done all the rest."
With Roy Keane and Nicky Butt still recovering from hip and ankle surgery respectively, Ferguson finds his midfield options weakened by the absence of suspended stand-in skipper David Beckham.
If the United boss sticks with his tactic of using Paul Scholes in an advanced midfield role just behind lone striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, the chances are that Diego Forlan - scorer in his last two league outings - will be handed Beckham's right-sided midfield spot.
The alternative would be to withdraw Scholes to a central slot alongside Juan Veron and re-ignite van Nistelrooy's partnership with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, which proved so prolific last term.
Either way, the team is likely to show seven changes from the side which overcame Leicester in midweek, French trio Fabien Barthez, Laurent Blanc and Mikael Silvestre reinforcing United's defensive options, with Veron, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy and Scholes hoping to bring the required cutting edge up front.
"This is a huge game and the players know they carry the responsibility of giving our supporters their best weekend of the season," said the United chief.
"The lives of the fans are woven into the fabric of the clubs they support. On Monday, if they have won they will be jumping, if they have lost they will be really down. It's all about winning.
"Manchester City have won their last two league games which is important because, as I have said quite regularly, the Premiership is a league you can't afford to go out of. If you get caught in that relegation zone, it is tough.
"I'm sure Peter Schmeichel has got himself primed, although it is over three years since he left us, so it's not quite the same issue as it once was."
That dismal defeat 13 years ago remains one of the bleakest days of Ferguson's managerial career.
However, after tomorrow, he will never be forced to revisit the stage which also holds happier memories of an FA Cup semi-final win over Oldham and two mesmerising 3-2 successes which re-emphasised United's Mancunian superiority.
"Tomorrow is more an emotional thing for Manchester City," he said. "It is their ground and they have played on it for more than 100 years.
"It is probably a good idea to move because they are restricted in attendance size at Maine Road and the potential of Manchester City supporters is bigger than the capacity.
"Nevertheless, everyone at United wants to be part of this. It should be a cracking game."