Since Manchester City became potentially the richest club in the world following their takeover by the Abu Dhabi-based business group, each time it plays Manchester United these days it is billed as "the biggest derby ever."
On Monday the hype will have a more realistic ring because while the clash at Etihad Stadium is not quite a Premier League title playoff it is the closest possible. There is far more than local bragging rights at stake, that's for sure, and Sky Sports, which has never knowingly undersold any live game, are rightly calling it the "match of the season."
Sir Alex Ferguson calls it "probably the biggest derby in my time," adding: "There has been an expectancy from City that this could be their decider, but it's our decider too."