The Red Devils will start hot favourites to overcome Tottenham at Wembley even though Ferguson could make nine changes to the side that started Tuesday night's Champions League showdown with Inter Milan.

Youngsters Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck have already been guaranteed starting slots, while Ben Foster, Nani and possibly even Fabio Da Silva are in line to join Jonny Evans and John O'Shea in a youthful looking United side.

For Ferguson, who is responsible for the Old Trafford outfit's only two previous triumphs in the competition, in 1992 and 2006, it provides the perfect opportunity to assess the abilities of his players on the biggest stage.

But it is one the United boss accepts he did not expect.

"The League Cup is a bonus," he said.

"We did not plan to be in the final, that is why we played young players from the start.

"We thought we would get a good run to the quarters or semis and see what they are made of.

"But they progressed well and we got home draws, which always helps."

Ferguson has not been let down either, with his teams playing some thrilling football on their way to the final, putting five goals past Blackburn and scoring three against Middlesbrough to fill them with confidence against a Spurs outfit slightly distracted by their on-going relegation battle.

"I am 100% confident in these young players," he added.

"If I had doubts, they wouldn't play. Their contributions have been terrific this season."

The Carling Cup was responsible for United's one defeat in the past three-and-a-half months when they lost at Derby.

But that semi-final setback at Pride Park was erased by their performance in the return. And, with an otherwise 26-game unbeaten run behind them, Ferguson is eager the defeat he knows his side will suffer at some point does not occur just yet.

"We don't want to be giving up this sequence," he said.

"We are going to get kicked in the teeth one day. That is football and that is why it is a great game.

"But we hope it is a long time ahead."

Foster seems certain to get the goalkeeping slot ahead of Tomasz Kuszczak, while Evans has recovered from an ankle injury and will take a central defensive berth, where he may be joined by Nemanja Vidic.

Nani and Carlos Tevez are also certain starters, with another Carling Cup ever-present, Anderson, set to travel, after a recent ankle injury.