LEVERKUSEN AND OLYMPIAKOS WILL BE WATCHING

Ferguson singled out 20-year-old striker Jimmy Davis and 18-year-old midfielder Kieran Richardson as players who could get the nod.

'I'm sure that one of the youngsters will start tomorrow and this will give us an opportunity to confirm what we think about them. These are two young players whom if you have to confirm your thoughts about them you have to do it on the right stage.

Olympiakos and Bayer Leverkusen, who could lose second place to Maccabi, are said to be unhappy with United’s squad. "They have to trust us," he said. "It's a gamble but one we have to take for the long-term future of our club, given the shape we are in. And I guarantee that we will try to win. Manchester United have to win all the time."

Ferguson added: "There has to be a bit of fairness to it because if Maccabi were to beat us, they could get a Uefa Cup place by finishing third and could even qualify for the second phase depending on the result in Germany and their last game. I will be making changes but they will not be as wholesale as people might think."

"Rio will be back and he will play along with players like Paul Scholes and the Nevilles who need games. It gives me an opportunity to play him and John O'Shea."

"I want to rest two or three players but it will be done with a degree of caution. If Leverkusen were to win in Germany, that would leave Olympiakos on three points while Maccabi would be on six if they beat us and they play one another in the last game. I think Olympiakos would have every right to complain, so we want to be seen to be doing the right thing in terms of recognising that. We have a good relationship with the clubs and there's no reason to disturb it."

Bayer Leverkusen v Olympiakos

Bayer Leverkusen 1/2

Draw 12/5

Olympiakos 11/2

Maccabi Haifa v Manchester United

Maccabi Haifa 7/4

Draw 5/2

Manchester United 6/5