Manchester United Vs. West Ham United Match Preview

Wayne Rooney could be on the bench for Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United against West Ham on Saturday but defender Nemanja Vidic is definitely out.

The England striker injured his hip against Chelsea last weekend and missed the Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona.

But United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said Rooney could be involved at Old Trafford.

Patrice Evra is also available after being carried off on Tuesday after being kicked in the face.

Ferguson said: "Vidic is not fit as with concussion you are out for 10 days but he should be fit for next Sunday.

"Rooney has given himself a chance but I don't know if he will start, maybe he will be on the bench.

"There has been a lot of improvement in the lad and the bruising on his hip has broken up, but we will still have to see whether he can make tomorrow.

"We have got a cup final of major importance and we want to make sure he is available for that, so we are not rushing him. We need to make sure he is 100%.''

Defender Mikael Silvestre is relishing the end-of-season showdown with Chelsea.

He said: "I have been working hard to get back in shape and anything that happens from now until the end of the season is a big bonus for me.

"In football, you can lose everything or win everything. It is really important we do our job until the end and win the double.''

West Ham expect winger Julien Faubert to have shaken off a slight hamstring problem to be fit to face the leaders.

Midfielder Freddie Ljungberg (cracked rib) has been added to the long list of injuries.

Defender Anton Ferdinand (hamstring) has returned to light training, but is not expected to feature - and neither is fellow centre-half Matthew Upson (calf).

Alan Curbishley insists the Hammers will not be at Old Trafford just to make up the numbers.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men are top of the table with just two games left and victory over the Hammers would hand them a huge step towards retaining their title.

However, Curbishley has masterminded three wins over United in their previous three meetings, including a famous triumph on the final day of last season which kept his side up.

And he knows the stakes are just as high this time around, but for United now rather than his 10th-placed side.

"The whole world will be watching the game on Saturday and we want to show what we can do,'' Curbishley said.

"It is uncanny how the fixtures have worked out, similar to last year - although this time the tables have turned somewhat.

"The Premier League has been massively competitive, there are no `gimmes'.

"If you look at why Man United are battling out this weekend its because Middlesbrough and Blackburn took them to the wire and Wigan came back in the last minute at Chelsea.

"The integrity of the Premier League has always been there and this is the most competitive I have ever been involved in.

"We have been accused of packing up and going on holiday and that sort of stuff - it is frustrating when comments like that come out.

"Every week we have had at least six or seven first-teamers out, and the players have done fantastically to get where they are and we want to stay there.

"There are a few things going on on Saturday, obviously one of them is getting that top-10 finish we want to secure and we want to go there and let people know who we are.''