This is unlikely to be the usual training session that Community Shields have a habit of turning into, and it's United who look the bet at 7-5 with Paddy Power to clinch victory over their arch rivals City.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side have been in good form in their pre-season friendlies, and will be keen to set down a marker for their bid to land the Premiership title for a 20th time.
The reds will be without Hernandez after he suffered a concussion last month, and midfielder Michael Carrick is set to miss out after picking up an Achilles problem in Edwin van der Sar's testimonial on Wednesday.
However they still have a squad which has real strength in depth, and in Rooney, Berbatoc, Owen and Macheda have a fearsome foursome of strikers to choose from.
United will be keen to grab the early bragging rights, and they have a solid midfield who are preaperd to battle and work throughout the 90 minutes to grind out a result.
The Red Devils took four points of City in the league last season, and although they lost out in the semi-final of the FA Cup to Mancini's men they had their sights set on a Champions League final at the time and it wasn't high on their priority list.
Other factors that give United the edge is that City will be without last season's captain and top scorer Carlos Tevez who is still on leave after the Copa America.
Their record signing Sergio Aguero is also set to be on the bench, and that mean's that Mancini may pair up £24m Mario Balotelli with £27m Edin Dzeko up front, and although they are both quality players it may take time for them to gel.
United have no such problems, and now how to work together to get results.
That is likely to give them the edge today, and at 7-5 with Paddy Power they look to big a price.
Recommended bet: 10pts Man United (7-5 Paddy Power)
