Nemanja Vidic is tipping Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe to be a potent partnership for Portsmouth this season.

Both sides could do with a victory at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth are still smarting after an embarrassing four-goal hammering at Chelsea last weekend while United need a win after being held at Old Trafford by Newcastle.

Already cemented in the bottom half of the table, the Red Devils could even find themselves in the relegation zone by the next international break given Friday's European Super Cup clash with Zenit St Petersburg has meant the postponement of their Barclays Premier League game against Fulham originally scheduled for next Saturday.

So, while Vidic thinks Defoe can strike up a productive partnership with US$20.4m (£11m) new boy Crouch, the Serbian is keen to ensure they do not hit the goal trail just yet.

"I have a lot of respect for Crouch and Defoe," he said.

"They are good players and will score a lot of goals this year, especially at home.

"Crouch is tall and wins most things in the air and Defoe is very quick around the box. He is a sharp player who makes problems for defenders.

"But as defenders we are here to deal with situations like that.

"We know who we are playing against so we need to prepare properly because it is very important we get the three points."

Once again, the game will be overshadowed by talk of another bid being lodged for Tottenham's wantaway frontman Dimitar Berbatov.

After a summer of speculation, the transfer window has entered its final week and there are finally signs of movement after Zenit confirmed the £24million capture of Danny Miguel from Dinamo Moscow.

That should allow Andrei Arshavin to complete his move to Tottenham, which would trigger Berbatov's departure for Old Trafford.

None of this will affect Sir Alex Ferguson's team selection tonight though as Carlos Tevez returns to partner Wayne Rooney up front.

John O'Shea is set to play alongside Paul Scholes in central midfield unless Ferguson opts to take a risk with Anderson, who has returned from Olympic duty with Brazil.

"No-one is happy about last week's result," reflected Vidic.

"We have started badly but it is a long season and we have plenty of time to put it right.

"It will not be easy tonight. Portsmouth will want to show they are not as bad as they looked last week. But we will be ready."

Vidic does not think too much can be read into United's previous tour performances against Portsmouth, in a pre-season game played in Nigeria and the Community Shield at Wembley a fortnight ago, which the Red Devils required a penalty shoot-out to win.

"I am not saying Portsmouth are bad but when it is one of the top teams the Community Shield is like a derby - and you really want to win," he said.

"This year we did not give 200%. But it was still a good game and we won the trophy, which is always good."