But he knows the meeting at Fratton Park could be the biggest test yet of his Portsmouth team's ability to compete with the elite.

Instead of moving on from last season's FA Cup triumph and highest-ever eighth-place Premier League finish, Redknapp has had limited funds to strengthen his side this summer.

England striker Peter Crouch and French defender Younes Kaboul were the major signings but Redknapp has had to pay for them by reluctantly selling midfield stars Sulley Muntari and Pedro Mendes.

He then found his intended route to further big-name targets blocked by Pompey owner Alexander Gaydamak's decision to restrict funds.

Filling up his squad with promising prospects like Armand Traore, Glen Little and Jerome Thomas - who could all make their Pompey debuts on Monday night - has been typical of Redknapp's forte in the past but, after an opening-day thrashing at Chelsea last week, Pompey look nowhere near as belligerent a force this time.

Yet they have lost only one of their last four home league matches against United with the former Bournemouth boss in charge as well as knocking them out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford in March.

And Redknapp insists: "I always look forward to these games and we have a tremendous record against them at Fratton Park.

"Last season we did not lose at home to any of the big four.

"Sure, it looks a really big test for us now but I think we are still a very good team at home and we will take some beating. United won't relish coming here. They never do.

"They have world-class players like (Wayne) Rooney and (Carlos) Tevez to name but too.

"You could frighten yourself thinking of how much quality there is.

"But the key to playing any of the big four is to match their work-rate. "We didn't do that against Chelsea. I've seen the stats and they did more running than us and we got hammered. Hopefully, we've learned from that."

The 61-year-old and Sir Alex Ferguson - the oldest pair in the Premier League - are friends from way back but that does not curb Redknapp's competitive edge.

Redknapp recalls: "He's had the hump with me a few times in the past - once at West Ham when we stopped United winning the title in the last game of the season and, of course, last season. We stopped them doing the treble when you think about it.

"But Alex is a marvellous man and a fantastic manager. He sent me a letter of congratulations after we won the FA Cup and I thought that was a lovely touch.

"That is the type of man you are dealing with. To achieve all that he has and to keep on achieving is a lesson to any young manager."

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off at Fratton Park last year as Ferguson's team had to settle for only a 1-1 draw but although Pompey also went on to have a memorable season, crowned by their Wembley triumph over Cardiff, it finished lamely in the league with four successive defeats.

Another on Monday would be an unwanted club record sixth - and the kind of habit Redknapp certainly does not want to see develop.

Midfielder Niko Kranjcar has been ruled out after injuring an ankle playing for Croatia in midweek and Redknapp could start on-loan Arsenal teenager Traore just four days after his arrival from the Emirates.

Winger Jerome Thomas is threatening £7million John Utaka's place having been preferred to the Nigerian as a substitute against Chelsea but with Kanu still out, Redknapp is certain to keep his new all-England partnership of Crouch and Jermain Defoe intact.