Sir Alex Ferguson is considering making wholesale changes to his team as Manchester United face two games in the space of 48 hours over the Easter weekend - and has even hired private jets to fly his stars back from international duty to keep them fresh for the punishing schedule.
The club have a commanding 15-point cushion in the title race as they face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday in the Barclays Premier League, but they then travel to Stamford Bridge for the replay of their FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea at lunchtime on Easter Monday.
The United boss could field two completely different teams for the fixtures, as he is expected to rest his stars for the Premier League clash before releasing them fresh against Rafa Benitez's side in the cup.
Ferguson also revealed that the club are hiring planes to fly their stars back to Old Trafford after the international break ahead of United's brutal schedule over the Easter period.
The United manager told the Mirror: 'Freshness is the name of the game now as we come towards the end of the season and the intensity of vital games coming in quick succession.
'My role becomes even more important in selecting the right teams, with freshness the operative quality. It's not necessarily putting out your best team, it's picking the freshest.
Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley (all England), David De Gea (Spain), Patrice Evra (France), Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland), Antonio Valencia (Ecuador), Javier Hernandez (Mexico), Shinji Kagawa (Japan), Robin van Persie (Holland)
'This will be a real problem when the players come back at the end of the international break after playing two games involving long flights, particularly with Chicharito in Mexico (to face USA) and Shinji Kagawa with Japan (who have a World Cup qualifier against Jordan on Tuesday night).]
'In fact, we're making arrangements for some players to fly home by privately hired jet after their matches, to make sure they get home as quickly and smoothly as possible.
'Tiredness is a great leveller but we will do our utmost to make sure we field the freshest possible teams. Private planes are going to cost the club an awful lot of money, but it is something we feel we have to do.
'The players who have missed the international trips, like Ryan Giggs, Anderson, Nemanja Vidic, Alexander Buttner and Rafael, will be key players in the run-in. Paul Scholes is back in training and will play a part in keeping us fresh.'
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