Derby up North could break up the big four

It's not often that an end-of-season Manchester derby is more important to City than United, but Saturday’s clash could go a long way to deciding whether the home side can break up England’s big four.

Premier League title running, but even victory at Eastlands would still leave Chelsea strong favourites. City desperately need the points to tighten their grip on the fourth place that secures a place in the Champions League. United were in pole position three weeks ago but a home defeat by Chelsea followed by a 0-0 draw at Blackburn Rovers has left them four points behind the Londoners with four games remaining.

It is not an insurmountable gap, even with Chelsea’s recent big wins giving them an advantage of five in goal difference, but the bigger issue for United could now be holding off Arsenal for second place.

Arsene Wenger’s side are third, two points behind, after their 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Wednesday. MCity are fourth on 62 points, one ahead of Spurs, who next face Chelsea and Manchester United.

Liverpool, on 56 and Aston Villa, on 55 after their 2-2 draw with Everton on Wednesday, are also still in the hunt for fourth but it is very much City’s to lose. Tomorrow ’s game is the fourth Manchester derby of the season and it will struggle to live up to the previous three.

United won the Old Trafford league clash 4-3 in September as Craig Bellamy’s brilliant last-minute equaliser was trumped by Michael Owen’s stoppagetime winner.

City won the first leg of their League Cup semifinal 2-1 with a double from former United forward Carlos Tevez, only for United to scrape into the final with Wayne Rooney’s last-gasp goal for a 3-1 Old Trafford success in the second leg.

The England striker remains in doubt for tomorrow because of the twisted ankle that kept him out of the Chelsea and

Blackburn games. United fans, unimpressed by the efforts of Dimitar Berbatov in Rooney’s absence, will be desperate to have their talisman back and they found an unlikely ally this week in the form of City manager Roberto Mancini.

“I think it is better if Rooney plays on Saturday , ” he said on the club’s website.

“He is a fantastic player and has had an amazing season. He will be a danger, of course, but United have many fine players in their team — but we have beaten them once at home already and can do it again.

“I think it’s best if both teams are full strength and then the side who takes the three points can truly say the best team won and there is no reason why that cannot be us.”

City are certainly the form team going nto the game, having won three league games in a row and scored 14 goals in the process.

Un i t e d ’s Ryan Giggs is hoping to recover from a hamstring strain in time to play tomorrow, maintaining his remarkable record of never missing a derby since he began playing in 1991.

The 36-year-old has played in all 32 meetings between the sides in all competitions since.

Should United triumph they will hope Chelsea drop points in their awkwardlooking trip to Tottenham later tomorrow.

That would also suit Arsenal, who refuse to lie down in the championship race despite taking a couple of standing counts and they would remain very much in the mix with victory at Wigan Athletic on Sunday.