Sir Alex Ferguson
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. REUTERS

Sir Alex Ferguson sees the match up with Tottenham this weekend as all-important in the title fight, and the Manchester United manager has one eye on getting closer to cross town rivals Manchester City before the sides face off on 30 April.

The Red Devils are currently two points behind City in the Premier League table, and after winning five of their last six matches, they are hoping to maintain their consistency to catch their rivals out and take over the lead as the season hits the business end.

And Ferguson knows the importance of United beating Tottenham this weekend, with the English giants hoping to not only end Spurs' title challenge, but to make theirs stronger.

"It's going to be a massive game at Spurs," he said, according to the BBC. "If we can survive that, then we'll have a big chance of winning the league."

While it is still over two months before United face City, Ferguson is concentrating on being in the best position possible before they play their fellow title challengers.

"I would take it being two points behind City going into the game at the Etihad Stadium," the United manager said.

"I would rather go there on level points. But, if we could go there within striking distance of being top of the league, I'd take it."

Ferguson is concentrating on making sure he has the best run in terms of injuries when the sides meet, and has admitted to giving players more rest than the minimum required to give them the best chance of being there for the season run in.

"I should have more players available than I've had in the last few weeks because we've had a terrible spell of injuries," he explained.

"But we've done the right thing in the treatment of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. We've given them a break.

"They are young players and had been carrying little strains for weeks.

"Then, all of a sudden, it hits them, and we had to take stock, to get them back. We've given them a fair break and they're fresh now."