AS Roma believe they are ready to upset United

ROME, Apr 3 (Reuters) AS Roma's players are confident they can produce another giant-killing performance and beat Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tomorrow.

After eliminating Olympique Lyon with a 2-0 away win in the last 16, the Serie A side are confident they can upset the odds and beat the Premier League leaders.

United manager Alex Ferguson will be treating Roma with the utmost respect, too, because he rated Lyon as one of the best teams in the competition before their elimination.

Before this season, Roma had not reached the knockout phase of the competition since it was re-organised in the early 1990s.

''United have shown they are in great form in their league, but we can really push them. Our win over Lyon told us we are capable of beating anyone,'' said Brazilian winger Mancini, one of several technically-gifted players who could trouble United, especially in the torrid atmosphere of Rome's Olympic Stadium.

Suspended midfielder David Pizarro is the only first-team regular who will be missing. Defender Cristian Chivu is expected to move forward to take his place in front of the back four.

Roma captain Francesco Totti warned United not to underestimate him -- or his side.

''Obviously it's a big satisfaction to be among the top eight teams in Europe, but that doesn't mean we want to stop there. We want to go on,'' said the 30-year-old striker.

Totti, who is revered by many Italians as the country's best footballer, was stung when Ferguson forgot to name him as one of the players his side would need to watch out for.

''Ferguson, you will learn who Totti is. He will see personally.

I hope to make him remember my name,'' Totti told Italian satellite broadcaster SKY.

United came from behind to crush Blackburn Rovers 4-1 on Saturday for their seventh successive league win and stay six points clear of Chelsea.

Their outstanding second half display was underpinned by an excellent performance from Paul Scholes who scored a fine solo goal to pull United level after 61 minutes.

VIDIC ABSENT United will travel to Rome without Nemanja Vidic who has broken his collar-bone and is likely to be sidelined for the rest of the season, while they are unlikely to risk striker Louis Saha who has just recovered from a hamstring injury.

Both teams have been in good form in Europe with Roma keeping a clean sheet in their last three Champions League matches and United winning their last three with a clean sheet in the last two.

United and Roma have never met in European competition and the English side will be looking to improve on their poor record in Italy of just two wins in 11 matches.

Probable teams: AS Roma: 32-Doni; 77-Marco Cassetti, 21-Matteo Ferrari, 5-Philippe Mexes, 2-Christian Panucci; 16-Daniele De Rossi, 13-Cristian Chivu; 11-Rodrigo Taddei, 20-Simone Perrotta, 30-Mancini; 10-Francesco Totti Manchester United:1-Edwin Van der Sar; 6-Wes Brown, 5-Rio Ferdinand, 22-John O'Shea, 4-Gabriel Heinze; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 11-Ryan Giggs, 16-Michael Carrick, 18-Paul Scholes, 8-Wayne Rooney; 13-Ji-Sung Park Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany) REUTERS SSC ND1410