Mixed motives for Manchester rivals

Victory in Saturday's derby could all but confirm Manchester United FC as English champions for the 16th time and the odds seem stacked in their favour given Manchester City FC's current form.

Big names back
With second-placed Chelsea FC facing a testing trip to Arsenal FC on Sunday, a win at the City of Manchester Stadium, coupled with Chelsea dropping points, would give Sir Alex Ferguson's side their ninth title in 15 seasons. Rio Ferdinand, Louis Saha, Alan Smith and Patrice Evra are all available having missed the 3-0 loss at AC Milan that ended their UEFA Champions League dreams, and Sir Alex is confident his team will bounce back from Wednesday's setback. "You have to put disappointment behind you, which has been a measure of this club," he said. "We've handled it in the past and we can handle it on Saturday. We can win the title, it's a big game and that's the incentive for us."

Sour note
United may be closing in on a first Premiership crown since 2003 - and with an FA Cup final against Chelsea on 19 May could yet complete a fourth domestic double - but for Stuart Pearce's City, a defeat would be another low in a gloomy campaign. "Games don't come any easier, do they?" joked Pearce, who will take charge of England at this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship. "We are going to have to be at our best to take anything off them." City have endured a term to forget and are longing to give their fans some cheer. Having failed to score a home goal in the Premiership since New Year's Day, they are also in danger of setting a top-flight record for the lowest-scoring home season. Sunderland AFC in 2002/03 and Arsenal in 1912/13 managed just eleven goals while so far, City have just ten. Furthermore midfielder Joey Barton, arguably their best player, will sit out their remaining two matches having been suspended by the club following a training-ground altercation with Ousmane Dabo this week.

Home struggles
If away results have helped keep the light-blue side of Manchester away from relegation trouble, their dreadful home form has certainly undermined morale. The big issue among supporters now concerns two rival bids to take control of City, one led by former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the other by ex-City full-back Ray Ranson. Offers of up to €150m are being considered. With all that money, City should surely be able to buy a few more home goals next term. United, however, have bigger and better things on their minds.