Up for it, because it’s Worth it
Ferguson has emerged triumphant from all his eight previous domestic semi-finals and is looking to enhance that record when his team take on Rovers in the first leg of a Worthington Cup last-four clash with a Millennium Stadium place the prize.
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 Worthington Cup back on the mantelpiece would at least 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.
United would have been few people's idea of potential winners when the tournament got under way in mid-August, but a combination of circumstances have meant Ferguson has fielded much stronger sides than he usually would have expected .
Their opening clash with Leicester came at a time when the Red Devils were hampered by injuries and struggling for form, so Ferguson opted to field a team packed with internationals, including David Beckham who was appearing in his first League Cup tie for seven years.
Victory took United into a Lancashire derby at Burnley, where another win resulted in an eye-catching home quarter-final against Chelsea which again begged for a strong side.
"Overall, the Worthington Cup has been quite good for us this year," Ferguson added. "The players are really buoyed up now and want to go to the final."
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 for the Portsmouth game, while Wes Brown and Paul Scholes are ready to return after being left on the bench against Pompey.
Scholes made a late appearance and had enough time to prove again just what a valuable asset he is, nipping onto Rio Ferdinand's long punt forward to seal a flattering 4-1 win.
It was the England international's eighth goal of the season and with Beckham netting for the third successive game, Ferguson is starting to hit the target from midfield to supplement 20-goal Ruud van Nistelrooy's prolific efforts in attack.
While most clubs would prefer to play the deciding leg on home soil, with the advantage of knowing exactly what result is required for victory, United are happy to visit Ewood Park for the second leg in two weeks' time even though they suffered a 1-0 defeat on their previous visit last month.
United reached the European Cup final four seasons ago by clinching victory over Juventus in the Stadio Delle Alpi and Ferguson believes experience on the continent renders the home advantage debate irrelevant.
Meanwhile, Graeme Souness was anxious not to "pull Manchester United's tail and make them angry" ahead of tonight's clash but his Blackburn assistant Tony Parkes had already given it a sharp tug.
After concluding discussions with prospective loan signing Phillipe Leonard faster than anticipated, Souness made himself available to discuss Rovers' first-leg tie against Alex Ferguson's men.
No, he was not confident, despite his team's 1-0 victory over the same opponents last month.
Yes, it will be difficult, pointing to United's imperious performances against Sunderland and Portsmouth in the last seven days.
"I don't want to pull their tail and make them angry," he added.
"With the talent they have, Manchester United can put five goals past any team in the Premiership, especially at Old Trafford. We'll be on the back foot for most of the game and our only aim is to still have a fighting chance for the second match at Ewood Park."
It was Souness at his diplomatic best. What he did not know was that Parkes, who had met the media as his manager's stand-in barely 30 minutes before, had revealed what the Rovers camp really think of the current Red Devils crop.
"It's not the Manchester United of three or four years ago," said Parkes. "They are not unbeatable anymore".
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 another former club, Aston Villa, which rammed the taunts of the home fans who used to adore him firmly back down their throats.
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.
The anticipated arrival of Leonard from Monaco by the end of the week will not offer any relief either.
The Belgium international has returned to France to discuss the move with his family but even if he makes the switch, he is unlikely to see first-team action until next month after falling out of favour with his current club's coaching staff.
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