But the Villa boss knows his team will have to produce a performance similar to the one which earned them a 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend to have any chance of toppling the Red Devils.

Villa last overcame United in a league meeting in the opening match of the 1995-1996 campaign when they pulled off a 3-1 home success.

But their form this season, challenging consistently for a top-four spot, suggests they have their best chance of springing a surprise this weekend for many years.

O'Neill said: "If you put things into a bit of perspective, United are a real quality side. If they are drawn in the Champions League against Inter Milan in the San Siro, they would feel they are capable of winning.

"That is not reached overnight. That is reached through years and years of big pressure matches, home and away, and they are capable. The main reason is they have outstanding players who can win games for them.

"Villa Park is a happy ground for them. Their record against us here is exceptional and they enjoy playing here.

"I generally believe records are there to be broken but I think we would need to play as well as we did at the Emirates to stop this run. Do I think we are capable of doing it? Yes."

O'Neill added: "I am thinking our side is capable of doing something about the record and, if we don't gain confidence from the win last week, we will never gain confidence.

"It was a big lift to beat a top-four side away. People are going to see how you perform against the big sides to see if you are making progress.

"We went to Chelsea and got turned over a few weeks back and they were brilliant on the day. They would have turned over anyone on that day.

"We didn't help ourselves and that wasn't really us. But is the real us like against Arsenal last week or when we lost to Middlesbrough the previous week?

"If we beat Arsenal and Manchester United in successive games, it would give us the most enormous boost. The players would think they are capable of going onto the pitch against the big sides and not just competing - but with a chance of winning.

"That is the sort of mentality we are trying to change here."

O'Neill will look to Gabriel Agbonlahor to continue the form he showed against Arsenal and on his England debut in Germany in midweek when he faces United.

He said: "Much as I complained last week about the timing of the international, I was delighted that Gabby played in the game. He did really well and I couldn't be more pleased with him and for him.

"How far is he off the finished article? He has got a bit to go. He knows that himself. I've always felt about him that he wants to improve, he wants to keep going.

"That was a big ambition realised the other day. I think it will give him a great boost of confidence. It was an excellent introduction, a friendly international but against high-quality opposition.

"He knows that he faces major competition for an England place. They are going brilliantly at the moment but I said to him 'try and be on that plane when it heads for South Africa for the World Cup'."

Villa defender Carlos Cuellar looks certain to be ruled out after suffering a thigh and groin injury against Arsenal. Nicky Shorey could return at left-back with Luke Young switching flanks to replace Cuellar.