United defender Rafael says the manner in which United lost the title to City last May is a major incentive to wrest the crown back.
"I will never forget how I felt that night after we had lost it and that will give us more motivation. We just looked at each other and said, 'How did we lose it by a few goals?' " said Rafael.
"We are determined to make up for losing the title to them last season. The way we lost it on goal difference made it even harder to accept. It was hard to take. It took ages to get over it – and it the pain is still there.
"The derby is getting more and more important each season. It would be a very important to build a six-point lead over them before Christmas. That would make them nervous and make it easier for us."
Off the pitch, Greater Manchester police are clamping down after a series of 'graffiti attacks' by rival fans targeting traditional United and City pubs.
A number of "at risk" premises have been highlighted and council removal teams are on standby to erase all offensive messages.
Two years ago, a pub favoured by City fans was targeted by rival supporters who daubed the walls with a taunt about the former City midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé, who died when he suffered a heart attack while playing in a match in 2003.
A bar frequented mainly by United fans had the word Munich painted on its outside wall, a jibe at the 1958 air disaster.
Supt Craig Thompson, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "We have experienced problems at recent derby matches with vandals trying to stir things up the night before by using graffiti on well-known buildings and we want to stop that from happening this time."
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