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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
MANCHESTER CITY  Hart Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy Nasri, De Jong, Milner, Silva Aguero, Dzeko | MANCHESTER UNITED  De Gea Valencia, Jones, Ferdinand, Evra Park, Carrick, Anderson, Nani Rooney Welbeck |
In a game that is the stand-out match of the round, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini misses the services of Kolo and Yaya Toure due to their involvement in the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast. Gareth Barry is suspended, while Owen Hargreaves is also battling injury.
Mario Balotelli (ankle) is also expected to be sidelined for this fixture, while Edin Dzeko (knee) and Samir Nasri (illness) are doubts.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been enduring some rough weather in recent times in terms of team selection as well as results. Concerning the former, Chris Smalling (tonsilitis) and Jonny Evans (calf) are sidelined along with long-term absentees Nemanja Vidic, Darren Fletcher, Fabio and Michael Owen. Ashley Young is also unavailable through injury.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Manchester City are the current FA Cup holders, having won the competition last season.
- That 1-0 victory over Stoke City at Wembley proved to be the club's first piece of silverware in over three decades.
- Roberto Mancini (pictured right) has a record of winning a domestic Cup with every club he has managed so far.
- City beat the Red Devils 1-0 in the semi-finals of this competition last season, before going on to lift the trophy.
- Manchester United have met their neighbours seven times previously in the FA Cup, and all games have been decided at the first time of asking; United have won four ties and City three.
- The Red Devils have 11 FA Cup triumphs to their name, with the last one coming in the 2003-04 season.
- United have won their last five away games in this competition, while Mancini's men have not conceded a single goal in their last five FA Cup matches.
- Sir Alex Ferguson's charges are coming into this clash on the back of two consecutive Premier League defeats, against Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United.
The quality and skill present in both sides coupled with the derby day delight puts this as a lip-smacking contest that should be fiercely fought, as much for local bragging rights as for progression in the tournament - as well as for psychological pressure in the title race.
Winner takes all, but the question is whether either side will do enough to warrant a win. Both will be wary of making a mistake, and a first ever FA Cup replay between the two neighbours could be on the cards.
Winner takes all, but the question is whether either side will do enough to warrant a win. Both will be wary of making a mistake, and a first ever FA Cup replay between the two neighbours could be on the cards.
Editor's Prediction
Manchester City 1-1 Man Utd. 
