Man Utd will have to be at their best if they are to end Porto's hold over English clubs on home soil.
United look to break Porto's hold over English clubs in Portugal
Manchester United are used to breaking records this season but they will have to be at their mid-season best if they are to end Porto's hold over English clubs on home soil in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
The Portuguese champions are unbeaten against English opposition at the Estadio do Dragao, a run which stretches back to 2004 when they knocked out the Red Devils at the last-16 stage.
Chelsea, Liverpool and most recently Arsenal have all travelled to Porto and come away empty handed highlighting the enormity of the task at hand if the holders are to progress into the last four.
Porto shocked the Theatre of Dreams with a thoroughly deserved 2-2 draw in the quarter final first-leg last week with an attacking brand of football rarely seen from opposing teams at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese side's front three of Hulk, Lisandro Lopez and Cristian Rodriguez gave the United defence a torrid evening and Sir Alex Ferguson will welcome back the assuredness of Rio Ferdinand with open arms.
The 30-year-old has missed the club's last three games but has shaken off a groin injury to start in Portugal.
Home record
Porto boss Jesualdo Ferreira has perhaps strategically played down his side's home record against English teams stating that it would have no effect on the outcome of the game.
"Only two or three players in this team played against English teams in the past so there is no meaning for the history between Porto and the English teams," he said.
"I think our expectations are exactly the same as before.
"Porto will play to win and wants to win but we don't have more expectations than last week."
Meanwhile Ferguson is under no illusions as to how hard the game will be, but he points out that his side are no strangers to overcoming difficult circumstances in Europe.
The Scot highlights perhaps the club's most memorable European performance as a case in point when they had to come from two goals down in Turin to beat Juventus 3-2 en-route to winning the competition in 1999.
"We've played in a lot of good European nights and, to be honest with you, they're a pleasure to be involved in," he said.
"Obviously we have a big job to do, but I trust these players. Their performances over the last couple of years - look at the games in Rome, Milan and Barcelona - justify that trust.
"But we're capable of turning it around. It's not as if we're coming here without a big chance. You have to remember the places we've been in the past and the performance levels we know we're capable of.
"Juventus is the game that springs to mind. We drew at home and then had to win away."
Team news
As well as Ferdinand coming in for United, midfielder Ryan Giggs could start after he failed to come off the bench in the 2-1 win at Sunderland on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo was also on the bench for the trip to the Stadium of Light and the current World Player of the Year will be determined to put on a show in his homeland.
Midfielder Darren Fletcher has a hamstring injury and that means that Anderson could start against the team he joined the Red Devils from in July 2007.
As for Porto they are likely to field the same side that started the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
That would mean that Argentinian forward Ernesto Farias is expected to drop to the bench despite scoring twice in the weekend's 3-0 win over CF Estrela da Amadera.
