Manchester Utd v Blackburn, ON TV: Sky Sports 2 (8.0)How to improve on perfection - that is the task facing Alex Ferguson when he sends his Manchester United side out to face Blackburn at Old Trafford tonight.

Ferguson has emerged triumphant from his eight previous domestic semi-finals and is looking to enhance that record when his team take on Rovers in the first match of a two-legged League Cup last-four clash.

Although the competition has often been treated as a second-rate tournament by United in recent seasons, they have appeared in three finals during Ferguson's reign, capturing the trophy for the only time in the club's history when Brian McClair's goal defeated Nottingham Forest at Wembley in 1992.

After finishing last season without any silverware for only the third time in 12 years, having the League Cup back on the mantelpiece would signal United's return to trophy-gathering mood.

"We have a fantastic record in semi-finals and we hope that will continue tomorrow," said Ferguson yesterday. "Two-legged semi-finals are always difficult and Blackburn won the trophy last year, so they will want to win it again. But so do we.

"We are only a couple of kicks away from the final so I will play the strongest side I can."

Semi-final or not, Ferguson is unlikely to have all his familiar faces on view as his squad is again hit by injury.

Captain Roy Keane limped out of Saturday's FA Cup win over Portsmouth with a hamstring injury, the extent of which still has not been revealed, while Fabien Barthez is unlikely to be risked as he recovers from a thigh strain.

But United have John O'Shea, Juan Veron and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer available after they were rested from the Portsmouth game, while Wes Brown and Paul Scholes are ready to return after being left on the bench against Pompey.

Blackburn manager Graeme Souness was, understandably, upbeat ahead of tonight's clash.

"Every game turns me on, the bigger the better," he said. "I'm excited about tomorrow but I'm also envious of the players. There will be 67,000 people in the ground and the vast majority don't want you to win. It's an enormous test, just like going to Parkhead, Anfield or Highbury.

"My players didn't bottle it at Celtic. We dominated the game and lost 1-0. We have young players who should go out and enjoy it. They will be richer for the experience."

Former Old Trafford favourite Andy Cole will return to the visitors' line-up after being rested for Saturday's FA Cup win at Aston Villa. He will partner another ex-United man, Dwight Yorke, in attack, the Trinidadian fresh from his brace against Villa.

Midfielder David Thompson is also set for a recall, although Souness has problems in defence where Craig Short is a definite absentee with a hamstring problem and Martin Taylor is nursing a sore back.