In seasons past, Arsenal's youngsters have been the ones to catch the eye in England's secondary knockout competition.

This term it has been United, with half a dozen youngsters forming the basis of Ferguson's squad during a run that has seen them account for Middlesbrough and Blackburn as well as Championship opponents QPR and Derby.

The likes of Darron Gibson, Danny Welbeck, Rodrigo Possebon and Fabio Da Silva, who could replace twin brother Rafael, are all set to be part of the United party that tackles Tottenham, having benefited, not from reserve team combat, but early elevation into Ferguson's first team set-up.

"Some time ago, I took a deliberate decision with Carlos Queiroz that the way forward with our youngsters was that as soon as we identified they had the quality and temperament to become first team players, then we would bring them into the squad and let them train with the seniors," revealed Ferguson.

"This has made a huge difference to their readiness for the big time and they are able to make the most of a first team chance as and when it comes along."

Ferguson has long held the view that reserve team football no longer provides an adequate test for young players attempting to muscle their way into one of Europe's finest teams.

A quarter of a century ago, stars such as Bryan Robson could regularly be seen recovering from injury with an 'A' team outing. Such opportunities no longer exist, which is why so many United youngsters, including Gibson and Jonny Evans - who will also play if he has a pain-killing injection in an ankle injury - spend time away from Old Trafford on loan.

As Ferguson points out, when they all return, training sessions can be a bit congested. But the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, with United bound to start favourites at the weekend to add domestic silverware to the Club World Cup trophy they won in Japan before Christmas.

"This policy we have undertaken has made our training sessions quite hectic and crowded at times but we have the coaching staff to cope," said Ferguson.

"It has enabled our young players to step up with more confidence than if they were coming straight out of the reserves and into the first team."

The policy is not without its dangers. Having cruised into the semi-finals, Derby were expected to be disposed of quite easily, only for a Kris Commons wonder strike to cause a shock at Pride Park.

Afterwards, Ferguson admitted the Red Devils were fortunate to still have a chance of reaching Wembley, such was their wretched display.

But, given a chance to overcome what constitutes one of only four defeats in 45 matches in all competitions this term, United's youngsters made amends in the Old Trafford return, blasting another four goals to take their tally in the tournament to an impressive 13.

"When you pick lads and come a cropper, there will be some people who point a finger and criticise you for fielding a weakened team," said Ferguson.

"But you don't win every match, whatever the strength of your side.

"For the first leg at Derby, I am sure some of our critics felt that with a Wembley final just one step away, I should have played all the big guns.

"But I didn't have any regrets because I knew that long-term, the lads wouldn't let me down and that I was pursuing the right policy."

Ferguson will check on injuries to Evans, Gary Neville and Anderson before finalising his starting line-up, which is bound to be substantially different to the one that performed so well without getting a priceless away goal against Inter Milan on Tuesday.

Ben Foster seems set to win the goalkeeping slot ahead of Tomasz Kuszczak, with Welbeck likely to be deployed on the wing rather than his normal striking berth should Ferguson offer Wayne Rooney some compensation for making just a seven-minute contribution at the San Siro by handing him a Wembley recall.

Ferguson will be wary of a competition that has never been among United's luckiest.

Six final appearances have yielded just two victories, with defeat to Aston Villa in 1994 costing his side a domestic Treble.