United, who face Tottenham on Sunday, are two points adrift of a City side who entertain Bolton 24 hours earlier.

Yet after that, it is the Red Devils who appear to have the easier run, leaving the battle tantalisingly poised.

More and more it seems that crunch confrontation between the reds and the blues at the Etihad Stadium on Monday, April 30 will decide everything.

Even Ferguson does not disagree.

"It does look that way," he said. "It is going to be a massive game because you can't see City dropping a lot of points and you can't see us dropping a lot of points either.

"We are getting into consistent form now so it does point to that game."

So Ferguson is delighted to have a second unsung hero around in Michael Carrick.

Much is made of Paul Scholes' refusal to embrace the glamorous lifestyle of so many modern-day professionals.

Yet Carrick rarely attracts attention either.

It could be one of the reasons why the 30-year-old has not featured for England since failing to make an appearance at the 2010 World Cup.

In fairness, Carrick has not always been that popular among the United faithful.

However, when the Red Devils take on his former club at White Hart Lane on Sunday, he is virtually certain to be in the starting line-up, just like he has for every major match United have played since his £18.6million arrival in 2006, a period in which he has won four Premier League titles and played in three Champions League finals.

"Michael is not a guy that seeks a lot of publicity," said Ferguson.

"He is a quiet lad. He goes about his life in a similar way to Paul Scholes.

"It doesn't mean to say he is not recognised by us.

"You get players like that. Denis Irwin was much the same. He was not the type to trumpet his achievements.

"It is quite refreshing in the modern game that we have players who can rely on their ability not only by promoting or projecting themselves."

Where Ferguson and Carrick do have a difference of opinion is in the Scot's repeated claims that the midfielder comes into his own in the second half of the season.

Carrick has never understood that, but the United boss is convinced it is true.

"I know he disagrees but I always feel the second half of the season sees Michael at his best," said Ferguson.

"He is doing that at the moment. His form for quite a while now has been absolutely superb.

"He and Scholesy are a good partnership."

Not that Carrick needs telling. Being quiet has created the impression he lacks confidence, which Ferguson insists is not the case.

"Michael is mentally strong," said Ferguson.

"He has a different personality. That can be misread by a lot of people thinking he has to be encouraged all the time. That is not the case."

United could do with Carrick on Sunday because Ferguson is convinced that if his side come through their next test unscathed, the pendulum will begin to swing their way.

It is one of the reasons why Ferguson will be so delighted to have Wayne Rooney available after a throat infection.

Chris Smalling could also be involved despite a nasty clash of heads with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar during England's midweek friendly defeat to Holland that resulted in him being taken to hospital.

Tom Cleverley and Antonio Valencia are missing, as is Michael Owen.

However, none of the injuries are long term, with even Owen now seeing some light at the end of the tunnel after four months out with a thigh injury, the latest in a succession of muscular problems that have blighted his entire time at Old Trafford.

"Hopefully Michael can have a little bit of luck now," said Ferguson.

"His injuries have always been long-term but hopefully he will be back for the end of the season now.

"He is the type of player who if you put him on in the last five minutes he could score two.

"He has such a great knack of scoring incredibly important goals as late as you like."