The last time Fulham played Manchester United, it was a no contest, with the English Premier League leaders running out comfortable winners in the F.A. Cup.
At Craven Cottage in their English Premier League game Saturday, the Red Devils will be expected to put in a similar performance as they prepare to extend their lead at the top to ten points from second-placed Manchester City.
United are currently sitting pretty on 59 points from 24 games, with City seven points adrift. The Premier League champions are only scheduled to play Sunday, a tough match against Liverpool, so United are poised to take full advantage and crank up the pressure on their title rivals.
"It's very tempting to think about being 10 points clear," Ferguson said, "but the most important thing is to keep our feet on the ground and try and win our game at Fulham. Then we'll see where that takes us.
"There's a long way to go (this season). Fourteen games. A lot can happen.
"We're not certainties. Nobody's a certainty in this league -- they never have been. We were 11 points clear of Arsenal one year and lost the league.
"We were 12 points behind Newcastle one year and won it. It's an unremitting league. If you make mistakes you get punished.
"(That's why) I don't think we can afford to drop any points. When you drop points it only encourages everybody around you.
"I know fine well that points will be dropped, I suppose, by both ourselves and Manchester City. But I hope we don't drop points, particularly in the next few games."
United do not have too many worries, with only Ashley Young ruled out of the game, while Jonny Evans returns from injury. "We're quite healthy in terms of the players available," Ferguson added. "Ashley Young's the one that's still not available.
"Hopefully Jonny trains today (Friday), which would give us another defender. That's good news. I'll make one or two changes tomorrow (Saturday). Rio Ferdinand will play. Definitely."
All eyes would have been on former United forward Dimitar Berbatov, but the Bulgarian has been ruled out the game with a hamstring injury.
Loan signing Urby Emanuelson is expected to be in the squad, but fellow new signings Stanislav Manolev and Eyong Enoh are yet to receive their work permits.
"Berbatov will not be fit for the game at the weekend," Fulham manager Martin Jol said. "He pulled his hamstring and we hope that he'll only take between seven and 10 days to recover. Kieran Richardson is still out with his calf.
"Steve Sidwell will be out as he's got a problem with his knee and that will probably take a week. (Mahamadou) Diarra is still out with his knee injury and Kerim Frei probably won't be back for another three or four weeks."
Expected lineups: Fulham: Schwarzer; Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Riise; Karagounis, Frimpong; Duff, Ruiz, Dejagah; Rodallega.
Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Cleverley, Kagawa; Rooney, Van Persie.
Prediction: 3-0 to United
