SOCCER/Champions League Group F/Manchester United v AS Roma:Wayne Rooney is expecting Roma to come out with all guns blazing tonight at Old Trafford to avenge last season's 7-1 humiliation by Manchester United.

"If I was a Roma player, I would be rubbing my hands at getting such an early chance to make up for what happened," said Rooney, who ended a three-year Champions League goalscoring drought against the Italians in that emphatic victory.

"I would have been delighted when the draw was made and I wouldn't be able to wait for the game.

"I am sure that they will be fired up for this game more than any other, but we are aware of how they will be feeling and we just have to concentrate on doing our job properly. It was a great result against them last season, but it won't happen again. This is the Champions League and it is a very difficult place to play football and get results like that one."

Alex Ferguson's planning for the game has been hampered by an injury to the goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, while he could also be without the defenders Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown.

Better news for United's defence is that Owen Hargreaves is fit to provide protection from midfield, but Ferguson admits to sharing Rooney's anxiety about Roma's return.

Ferguson said: "I think there is a big motivation for Roma. I have seen some of the Italian papers and it's all about revenge. Understandably, it's a big occasion for them after the defeat last year and they will want to turn that scoreline around. It will be a very difficult game for us."

Ferguson is set to persevere with the attacking partnership between Rooney and Carlos Tevez, despite the pair's failure to consistently display obvious chemistry as a goalscoring double-act.

Rooney's relocation to an advanced role as the principal striker, with Tevez operating between him and the midfield, has left the England forward still searching for his first goal of the season, but he insists that he is comfortable with the new system.

"When I play with Carlos, it's a different role for myself. I try to play on the shoulder a lot more and let him be the link between the midfield and forwards," said the 21-year-old.

"Of course, I'm happy to do that. He has played well, he is getting better each game and is good to play with. Towards the end of last season I played a lot on the shoulder and got a few goals, so I'm happy to play that role. It has been a disappointing start for myself this season with getting injured, but I'm happy to be back. I've played three games now and hopefully I can start scoring again."

If United are to thwart Roma's revenge mission, silencing Francesco Totti to the same degree as last season will be crucial. Ferguson acknowledges that the elusive forward is the major threat to his team's hopes of victory.

"I think Totti is pivotal to the way they play," he said. "Of course he is a fantastic hero for their fans because he is a home-produced player who never wanted to leave, which is understandable because we have several players like that here at United. He is looked upon as the king of their club, really."

Both games last season were marked by trouble involving fans, forcing Greater Manchester Police to take special measures to prevent a repeat tonight. There will be an increased number of police officers on duty at the ground, as well as police spotters at Manchester Airport and undercover officers mingling with supporters inside the ground. Italian police will also travel to Manchester to help with the operation.

Eleven United fans were taken to hospital in Rome - some stabbed by rival supporters and others injured after being baton-charged by police in the stadium. Police were also drawn into clashes between fans before the second leg at Old Trafford in April.

The match commander, Superintendent John Graves, said: "We have learned from last season's encounters and there were some aspects of the policing operation we needed to bolster and extend. We are covering at the airport and there is an operation in the city centre to keep tabs there. I'm confident I have enough resources available to me."