Cape Town - Nemanja Matic insists Manchester United will be ready for Manchester City on Sunday as Jose Mourinho has a plan to stop their 'noisy neighbours'.

The city rivals clash at the Etihad Stadium to contest the 177th Manchester derby, with United trailing the table-topping Citizens by nine points after 11 Premier League outings.

Mourinho's side delayed City's title celebrations last season by battling back from 2-0 down to claim a 3-2 victory away from home in April, and they produced a similar fightback to beat Juventus 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Matic admits the defending champions will pose a big threat this weekend, but is confident that his manager will mastermind another derby success.

"I expect a very difficult game. They are a very good side, they play good football, they score a lot of goals in every game, but we also have our qualities which we have to use," the Serbia international told his club's official website.

"We have to stop them in their attacks, there is a way to do it and the manager knows that. We will prepare for the game. I expect a hard game but, in a derby, everything is possible, and we will be ready for that.

"I think that we believe more that we are a good team, we have also improved and mentally we are stronger.

"I think in the last four league games we have three wins and a draw, so this gives you more confidence, but we deserve that and will try to continue in this way."