RYAN GIGGS believes Manchester United's experience as regular title winners can be made to count in the critical derby at the Etihad Stadium tonight as the champions attempt to deliver "a statement" to their closest rivals.

The midfielder, a veteran of 12 league titles with United who was absent when Roberto Mancini's team won 6-1 at Old Trafford in October, conceded that the holders had been forced to cling to City's coat tails through the first half of the campaign.

United have been resurgent since early January, winning 12 of their past 15 Premier League games even if recent blips against Wigan Athletic and Everton have extended the title race.

"City will be looking at it and fancying themselves to win the game, just like ourselves, because they're a good team and they're at home," said Giggs.

"But we're Man United, we're the champions . . . It's a bit frustrating [ that points have been dropped in recent weeks] but there's nothing we can do about it now. It's still in our hands . . . It could have been better but it's not and we realise that.

"There is no mistaking that this is a massive game and the biggest in recent times. We realise it's a big game but as a player you're used to it and, as a United player, we're definitely used to it.

"City are a good side. They were on fire pre-Christmas and we were just trying to hang on, really. We managed to do that and we've come into form in the second half of the season. It's come down to this now . . . We just need to make sure we use the experience we've got and make sure it works for us."

The defeat to Wigan and the subsequent 4-4 draw with Everton at Old Trafford served to check United's momentum, with City recovering their poise to win their last three games impressively and trim the champions' advantage at the top to three points in the process.

They go into the derby knowing victory is imperative. The need is not quite so pressing on United and a draw would still leave Alex Ferguson's team in a strong position with two games to go.

"So we'll go for it and try to win but obviously the scenarios are more in our favour than City," said Giggs.