Chelsea

The biggest game of the Premiership season so far takes place on Super Sunday, as Manchester United face the ultimate test of their staying power by welcoming reigning champions Chelsea to Old Trafford.

Ever since he sprinted down the Manchester turf after Porto's UEFA Champions League victory in March 2004, the outspoken Jose Mourinho has held the Indian Sign over Sir Alex Ferguson, but for the first time since his arrival in English football the boot is on the other foot.

United begin Sunday's showdown with a three-point advantage over their rivals at the top of The Premiership, and after two seasons in which they have been unable to touch the Roman Abramovich-bankrolled Blues, Ferguson will be desperate to finish the weekend as top dog to underline his side's title credentials.

The Mourinho/Ferguson rivalry has always been one of mutual respect rather than animosity, but, typically for a game of such magnitude, the pre-match sniping has already begun with Cristiano Ronaldo and former Old Trafford supremo and current Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon aiming digs at their adversaries.

The on-field action could be just as feisty with so much at stake, and Howard Webb has been appointed the man in the middle as the battle for Premiership supremacy unfolds.

Whilst United have been put firmly in the shade by their London rivals in the past two seasons, one bright spot was their 1-0 victory over The Blues at home last season, and a repeat performance would give them a commanding six-point lead going into December.

Moreover, The Red Devils are currently England's form team having recorded seven league wins in a row, but a disappointing defeat to Celtic in midweek may have dented their confidence somewhat.

England stopper Rio Ferdinand sustained a knock in the UEFA Champions League clash, but the former Leeds man has been passed fit for the crunch clash.

Ferguson's main concerns lie up front with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer absent due to a hamstring problem and Alan Smith short of fitness, whilst Louis Saha will need a good performance after missing a crucial penalty in midweek.

However Wayne Rooney will be champing at the bit, and otherwise the Scot has a healthy squad to pick from with his main dilemma whether to field Patrice Evra or Gabriel Heinze at left back.

Chelsea should also be in fine fettle, and The Blues come to Manchester with a point to prove after having their supremacy questioned following a 1-0 defeat to Werder Bremen in Europe.

A win by four clear goals is required if The Blues are to regain top spot on Sunday, but any kind of a win will do for Mourinho in this clash of the titans.

The Portuguese boss is awaiting news on two key players, but both 14-goal Didier Drogba (ankle) and Germany captain Michael Ballack (calf) - a former United target - should be fit to take the field.

Centre back Ricardo Carvalho has also recovered from an ankle injury that ruled him out of the trip to Germany, so Khalid Boulahrouz is likely to return to the bench if Geremi keeps his spot at right back.

Another fillip for Chelsea is the return of Frank Lampard who missed the Werder game due to suspension, but youngster Salomon Kalou misses out due to medial ligament damage.

Lampard's return means John Obi Mikel is likely to be spared a fierce reception from the United support after backtracking on a deal to join The Red Devils in order to move to Stamford Bridge, but the much-anticipated clash should still have no shortage of talking points as the two heavyweights go head-to-head at Old Trafford.

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