Manager Harry Redknapp’s side have already notched more than respectable results when up against the big guns so far this season, earning a draw against Arsenal at Highbury and a 1-0 home win over Liverpool before coming unstuck at St James’ Park where Newcastle ran out 3-0 victors a week ago.

But despite that setback on Tyneside, midfielder Steve Stone insists he and his team-mates will run out at United’s self-styled Theatre of Dreams brimful of confidence in their own ability.

Stone, who helped the Fratton Park outfit secure a 4-2 extra-time Carling Cup victory at former club Nottingham Forest on Wednesday evening, said: “Manchester United next so that’s not going to be easy is it?

“But I would say we’re entitled to have some confidence in ourselves going up to Old Trafford because when you sit down and look at it, Newcastle is the only blip in our season so far.

“We really did fancy our chances when we went up to Newcastle but we ended up getting easily beaten.

“Before that though, we’d been to Arsenal and done well there as well as at Manchester City and of course we beat Liverpool at Fratton Park.”

So despite the fact that United will be smarting after Fulham’s shock victory at Old Trafford last weekend, Stone said: “We’re not going to be going up there daunted because we believe we’ve got quality players all over the pitch and when we’ve got our best 11 players out there at the same time we’re a match for anyone.

“With players like Patrik Berger and Teddy Sheringham we’ve got a great deal of experience as well and that means when we lose games we’re not immediately going to start panicking.

“And we’re certainly not one of those clubs simply trying to survive in this division, we’re not aiming just to beat relegation.

“We honestly believe we can finish in the top 10 but the big problem we’ll have is making sure we can get our best team on the pitch often enough without being affected by suspensions and injuries.

“But I tell you what, it was a really tough game against Nottingham Forest, it was a game which ended up taking an awful lot out of our legs.”

Portsmouth’s reward for their Cup victory was a fourth-round meeting with south coast arch-rivals Southampton but Redknapp was certain about where his priorities lie.

He said: “Southampton will be a big game for everyone on the south coast but we have a lot of big games coming up these days.

“We’ve just been up to Newcastle and lost and next up is Manchester United so we’ve also got to keep our focus on where we’re going in the league.”