Evaluation of the Blue n Red halves

Both sides have their difficulties with injuries and suspensions, which makes predicting the starting lineups alone a difficult job. But, having made our very best guess at how Mancini and Ferguson might set out their respective sides, we broke out the abacus to see which will have the most expensive side, on paper at least.

So, with no further ado, let's get into the head-to-heads. Seconds out, round one...:

(NB: Starting lineups are estimates based on the availability of each squad, while players have been paired as closely as possible with their opposite number, although obviously neither side are likely to play identical tactical systems)

GOALKEEPER

Joe HART £600,000 (rising to £1.5m)

Edwin VAN DER SAR £2m

It's youth versus experience between the sticks, as the 23-year-old Hart faces the 40-year-old Van der Sar. But while the difference in games played between the two could hardly be starker, the cost to their teams is virtually negligible. Van der Sar's signing proved a snip at £2m, but despite taking the No.1 shirt for club and country since his move from Shrewsbury Town in 2006, Hart will still only come to cost his club marginally less. In terms of resale value, however, his price tag would dwarf the soon-to-retire Dutchman's.

DEFENDERS

Right-back

Pablo ZABALETA £6.5m

Wes BROWN n/a

The versatile Argentine, signed from Malaga two years ago, is perhaps not a starter in Roberto Mancini's first choice XI, but his versatility is such that he plays more games than not in a variety of positions. Brown is not destined to be remembered as one of United's finest youth prospects, but his collection of medals show he is no one's fool.

Centre backs

Vincent KOMPANY £6m

Nemanja VIDIC £7m

Kolo TOURE £16m

Rio FERDINAND £30m

For all City's recent largesse, United certainly have the edge when it comes to the cost of their two stalwarts at the heart of defence. Ferdinand's form (and fitness) may have lapsed in recent times, but despite his then-world record transfer fee his signing has still proven good value. Vidic's price tag puts City's duo to shame — Kompany has grown into an increasingly effective Premier League defender but still has room to improve, while City are still waiting to see whether Kolo Toure can be the top-drawer performer Arsenal believed he could no longer be.

Left-back

Jerome BOATENG £10.4m

Patrice EVRA £5.5m

Boateng signed for City even before playing a role in Germany's star summer in South Africa. Capable of playing all across the backline, he will likely fill in at left-back on Wednesday through necessity (Mancini is surely unlikely to risk £17m Alexander Kolarov in such a game so soon after his injury layoff). Evra, on the other hand, had a horrible World Cup but is rightfully regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world. His price tag is another reminder of Ferguson's ability to spot a star.

MIDFIELDERS

Right-side

Adam JOHNSON £7.5m

Luis NANI £17m

Johnson (or his equivalent on the other side, Silva) might only be starting due to the suspension of £30m Mario Balotelli — and even then there is no guarantee the pragmatic Mancini doesn't opt for another, more defensive option. Johnson has immediately proved himself a bargain after his signing from Championship side Middlesbrough, whereas Nani has only recently shown signs he might consistently deliver on the promise we've seen fleetingly ever since his signing from Sporting Lisbon in 2007.

Central midfield

Yaya TOURE £24m

Michael CARRICK £18m

Nigel DE JONG £18m

Darren FLETCHER n/a

Gareth BARRY £12m

Paul SCHOLES n/a

In this central midfield, it's City's collective that are by far the most expensive. United's trio will likely be comprised of two youth products — one (Scholes) among the greatest in the club's history, the other (Fletcher) trying to get there — and one £18m signing who hasn't quite been the controlling influence on the side that was once envisaged.

United's group is established, however, whereas City's is still adapting to life at the club — and together. Yaya Toure cost a lot from Barcelona last summer and even more in wages, while City paid £18m for De Jong, now regarded highly as an enforcer, when they could have waited another six months and possibly snatched him for free. Barry is an established Premier League player after his long stint at Aston Villa.

Left-side

David SILVA £26m

Ji-Sung PARK £4m

For all the millions spent by either side, Silva is the only World Cup winner among either likely starting XI — and even he is far from a guaranteed selection. In terms of cost his summer signing understandably dwarves that of Park, who was initially thought of in dismissive terms (with his marketability in Asia seen as the main reason for his signing) but has gone on to prove himself a valuable, if eminently rotatable, member of the squad.

STRIKER

Carlos TEVEZ £40m

Dimitar BERBATOV £30.9m

Where the big bucks were spent. City and United between them will opt not to start (for various reasons) the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor (£25m) and Wayne Rooney (£25m), yet still will feed two strikers with a combined cost of over £70m. Berbatov was wanted by the newly-minted City before opting for United, but despite a hat-trick against Liverpool earlier this season still seems to lack his manager's full trust.

Carlos Tevez's third party ownership drove up his cost to almost extortionate figures after a successful two-year 'loan' at Old Trafford, but he has already proven his vital importance to his new side's success as their all-action central striker.

TOTAL

MANCHESTER CITY £167.9m	MANCHESTER UNITED £114.4m

Difference: £53.5m

When it comes to the value of their starting XI, it seems City are clear and undoubted winners. What is more, while United are without a few expensive stars (Rooney, Hargreaves, to mention just two) it seems City have an equal ability to pull equally valuable assets off the bench (Adebayor, Kolarov, to mention just two).

But games are not won on the till register, and United have shown consistently in recent seasons that they have the quality and nous to keep their wealthy rivals at arms' length. But will that change this season? We could be about to find out...