While the tie has been a major talking point among supporters ever since the draw was made last month the Town players put tonight’s Capital One Cup visit to Manchester United on the back burner until all league fixtures had been fulfilled.
Midfielder Jay Tabb, still to taste league action this season, is a likely starter at Old Trafford after playing and scoring in the first round victory over Stevenage and again in the extra-time win at Doncaster.
He said: "We have had important league games since the draw was made and managed to avoid talking about Manchester United.
"But we did on Monday and wondered what sort of team United are going to play. The league’s our main priority and we had a very good season last year.
"When we won on Boxing Day we were top of the league but then we had a couple of injuries that came at bad times and they stopped our progress.
"In the end we did well just to get to the play-offs but we want to go one step further this year. Even though it’s a big game the main goal is to be playing against Manchester United twice next season.
"We’ve got nothing to lose going up there. We’ve had a good start to the Championship season and we’re in the top six.
"We had a bit of a stumble when we lost to Brighton and Reading but we bounced back really well from that with a good win away at Leeds and a tough, hard-fought draw against Birmingham.
"The Championship is our main thought and going to Manchester United is a pleasant distraction. If we play well and win to get through it’s great, but if we give a good account of ourselves and don’t get through we will just look to Saturday and our league game at home to Bristol City instead. The gaffer wants to win every game, that’s the way he is, but he will say the league is our priority.
"Week in, week out, it’s a grind in the Championship and we’ve started the season really well. This is a pleasant distraction for us but we’ve got another big game on Saturday against Bristol City.
"The manager hasn’t named the team yet and I’m not too sure what’s going to happen with that but whoever plays on Wednesday they will be looking to test themselves against the team United put out.
"There’s no one player that stands out in the United squad — all of them I would say — but Anthony Martial doesn’t look bad, does he? He’s had a pretty good start to his United career but there’s too many to name really. It’s a squad packed full of talent and I’m not too sure what kind of team they are going to pick.
"I think it will be a bit of a mix and match, with several experienced pros and a couple of youngsters as well. They will have the ball the majority of the time and we’re going to have to be prepared to work hard.”
That should come naturally to whatever team Town field, with manager Mick McCarthy never demanding less than 100 per cent effort from each and every one of his players.
Tabb added: "You have to stick to your game plan. We will be prepared right and there will probably be a few nerves standing in the tunnel but once you’re out on the pitch you just have to make sure that you do your job.
"You are playing against better players so it is going to be a tough ask, but if you can give your all, that is all that can be asked of you.
"Look at us against Stevenage, they were 1-0 up and we had to roll our socks up in the second half to get the win.
"It could be a similar situation at Old Trafford — Manchester United may be a better team than us but we will be going out there to do all we can to get the right result.”