The Premiership showdown between struggling Manchester United and off-colour Chelsea this afternoon comes at a perfect time for both clubs, according to Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
Both lost in Europe in midweek and have something to prove in the Premier League.
Against Manchester United, however, Chelsea would have no problems with the motivation that has been missing recently because of a lack of pressure.
Their opponents would also be fired up to tackle the runaway leaders, Mourinho said.
"It's the best game for them. They don't need motivation they don't need commitment, everybody wants to play." he said, adding that for Chelsea the 13-point league gap with United would be irrelevant because every player wanted to win the big games.
"For us these are the easiest matches to prepare, the hardest to play, but the easiest to prepare. I don't have to motivate players. So it's good timing."
Though six points clear in the Premier League, Chelsea dropped their first points on October 23 with a draw at bottom club Everton, then went out of the League Cup on penalties before losing to Real Betis in Seville.
United have suffered a miserable week, beaten 4-1 by Middlesbrough, criticised by injured captain Roy Keane and slumping to a 1-0 defeat by Lille.
"Of course our situation is much better," Mourinho said. "They have five points in their (Champions League) group we have seven and we are (13) ahead in the Premier League."
"But it's not a drama for them -- they could still be first in their group and in the Premiership they still have 30 matches to play."
Mourinho said he expected a tough, uncompromising game.
Ferguson knows victory is the best way to lift his players and deflect a mounting storm of criticism.
"The criticism is not a problem for me from the media, because we expect that," he told a news conference on Friday.
"What I have to look at is how the players have been affected by it. When you lose a game, particularly for young players, there can be a dip in confidence.
"I think that's natural and we are not different from anyone else in that respect. The best way without question is to win a match. And on Sunday we have an opportunity, because we have the ability to win this match, no matter how difficult the task is against a very good team.
"Maybe that's what we need, to play against a very good team when we know that mistakes can be costly.
"All these (other) things are peripheral to the real thing. We know we have the ability. Can we usurp Chelsea and make them think for a bit because I know we have the ability and probably everybody else does to."
Ferguson is confident his players will rise to the occasion.