Roy Keane will lead Manchester United against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday - but has been told he will get plenty of rest this season.
The former Republic of Ireland star has kept everyone guessing all week after missing United's opening Champions' League game on Tuesday, but on Saturday night, Sir Alex Ferguson announced: "Keano will be fit for Sunday."
Doubts grew that he would miss Sunday's game when he pulled out of Tuesday's win over Panathinaikos after picking up an ankle injury during last weekend's win at Charlton.
Keane's chances of making the top-of-the-table showdown appeared to diminish amid claims it could take surgery to sort out the problem but Ferguson dismissed the speculation, along with another wild claim.
"I'm not resigning, and Roy Keane does not need an operation!" he said.
"There was nothing in it at all. It was an ankle injury, but if you're going to say every ankle injury is going to be six weeks, then I suppose that's right.
"If he was incapable of playing, why would I put him on the bench on Tuesday night?"
While Ferguson has revealed his hand, he confesses there is a slight gamble including Keane in his plans as United face the side which has provided them with their biggest championship challenges over the past seven years.
"Roy was exactly the same when we played Tottenham in the last game of the season in 1999. He wasn't 100%, but it didn't stop him from playing and he'll be alright on Sunday."
According to Ferguson, Keane can expect more time off this season even though he knows the player who has been the backbone of his side for the past 11 years may not take such decisions lightly.
The boss added: "We'll gauge the right things to do with Roy. He won't play every game this season, there's no doubt about that.
"I'll be leaving him out of a lot of games because the important thing is to have him when it really matters. If I can't do that, then there's something wrong with my squad.
"It isn't a matter of him taking it, he'll just have to accept it. There isn't going to be a halfway house where I'm going to have to go to Roy and get him to pass the verdict whether he's playing, I'm going to make the decision because it's going to be for his benefit.
"If I can get him playing in the important games in May, then we'll know we were right."