Manchester United and Manchester City may have shared the last four Premier League titles between them, making this one of the most-anticipated fixtures on the calendar, but this time around bragging rights alone seem to be up for grabs.

That is not to say that this match is any less intriguing, though, with plenty still to play for in the final stretch of the campaign, including the small matter of a top-four spot in the league table.

The two sides appear to be heading in opposite directions at this stage of the campaign; United winning their last five games, while the Citizens have lost five of their last seven outings to slip beneath their great rivals in the table for the first time in almost 500 days.

It promises to be a tight and tense affair at Old Trafford, and with that in mind Sports Mole takes a look at where the 169th Manchester derby could be won and lost this weekend.

1. Battle of the keepers

Forget Eden Hazard, Harry Kane and Diego Costa - as far as Manchester United supporters are concerned, there is only one person worthy of claiming the Footballer of the Year accolade later this month. That man, of course, is goalkeeper David de Gea, who has produced a string of impressive displays this campaign to rescue his side on numerous occasions.

Things may have clicked into gear under Louis van Gaal of late, but for a long time certain aspects of United's game appeared to look rather disjointed all over the field, particularly at the back. Cast your mind back to games earlier this season in which the Spanish stopper pulled off world-class saves week by week, with each seemingly better than the last.

Only seven goalkeepers have been forced into action more often than the United ever-present this campaign, but it is hard to argue the case of anyone other than the 24-year-old being crowned as the league's best in his position by fellow Premier League pros.

One man who can match De Gea - in terms of clean sheets this season, at least - is opposite number Joe Hart, who is arguably the only City player who can hold his head up high at this moment in time. A memorable performance against Barcelona in the Champions League last month, which ultimately counted for little in the grand scheme of things, went a long way to show that the Englishman remains an integral part of the Citizens' plans.

Much change is expected in the summer, but it is difficult to see Manuel Pellegrini - or whoever is in charge, for that matter - parting company with Hart. That is why this weekend's clash between the two rivals could come down to the battle of the keepers. Both defences have faced criticism this campaign - one labelled as being past its sell-by date and in need of drastic change, the other too inexperienced and prone to high-profile mistakes across the line.

No side in the top flight averages more shots per game than City, while United boast one of the best shots-to-goal ratios in the division. It sets up an intriguing battle, with an off day for either goalkeeper likely to prove costly in terms of his team's chances of success.

2. Formations

The biggest criticism of Pellegrini this term - and there have been many - is his reluctance to change formation in the big games. Having seen his tried and tested 4-4-2 picked apart by Barcelona and Liverpool in successive games earlier this year, the Chilean came under increasing pressure as the wheels began to fall off City's season.

The formation, it is argued, is simply not the right set-up to get the best out of the likes of Yaya Toure and David Silva. The former in particular has struggled to match the heights set last season, with his box-to-box running often exposed by the better sides. That could prove costly at Old Trafford should Pellegrini opt to stick with a four-man midfield like he did at Crystal Palace last Monday.

That costly defeat, which ultimately ended the champions' slender hopes of retaining their league crown, may prove to be the final straw ahead of this weekend's huge derby meeting. The big question is whether the former Real Madrid manager will be proactive or reactive, setting up his side to stifle the opposition's attacking threat, or instead remaining stubborn in the hope that his side's impressive recent run against Man United continues for another season.

It has been no secret that Marouane Fellaini has grown into one of United's better players this term, reaching a stage where he has become one of their most important players. Van Gaal has slowly moulded his side into an outfit more familiar to one fielded under Sir Alex Ferguson before him, with Ashley Young providing real width down one flank and getting balls into the box, Juan Mata linking with Ander Herrera down the other side and Fellaini offering an aerial force between midfield and attack.

So often in recent games the Red Devils have gone long looking for the Belgian enforcer, and it has produced some real success if past results are anything to go by. The key on Sunday, however, will be remaining compact in order to pick off the opposition, as 4-4-2 comes up against 4-5-1.

3. Goalscoring prowess

In the red corner we have a player who is enjoying his football once more in a position that he can truly call his own, while in the blue corner there is a striker who has forgotten how to find the net in recent weeks. Both can be deadly, and both have proved time and time again - particularly in this all of fixtures - that they can be match winners on their day.

Wayne Rooney is now back in his centre-forward role, and having scored six goals in his last eight outings, he is fast closing in on United's all-time goalscoring record. One goal this weekend will see him draw level with Denis Law's long-standing tally of 171, although the great Sir Bobby Charlton still remains some 29 goals ahead.

It seems inevitable that the England international will surpass that impressive record within the next couple of years, but this Manchester derby is as much about his opposite number Sergio Aguero as it is himself.

The City man boasts an impressive record against the Red Devils, scoring five goals in six games in this fixture, although he has now gone five outings without a goal wearing the Sky Blue colours. That is a worrying issue for Pellegrini and co which is best reflected in their barren run of form since the turn of the year.

If there is one thing we have learned about Aguero during his time in the Premier League, however, it is that his goals so often come in phases. Eight goals in five games earlier this season was followed up by just one in his next four, for example, while he also went five games without a goal upon returning from injury in January, ending that quiet spell with four goals in his next three run-outs.

City and United boast the best pass-completion stats in the division, while no other side has seen more of the ball on average than the Manchester duo. This weekend, in front of a vociferous stadium packed with 76,000 supporters, it is not about who can keep hold of the ball for the longest, though, it is about who can keep their cool in front of goal when it matters most.