Match info: Monday 16 February, 19:45 GMT. The match will be shown live in the UK on BBC1, while live text is available at manutd.com/matchblog and MUTV offers live audio.
Scene-setter: After initially drawing 0-0 at Cambridge, United reached the FA Cup's fifth round with relative ease in the replay, dispatching the League Two side 3-0 at Old Trafford. However, Louis van Gaal won't take League One club Preston lightly - “Preston will not be a piece of cake” were his words on discovering the Reds' next opponents in the competition. With the club's league campaign firmly on track after the midweek win over Burnley, the boss will be hoping the distraction of a home replay won't be required in the Cup this time and he'll be urging his players to get the job done at Deepdale.
Form guide: United have enjoyed a steely streak in recent months, losing only once in the last 18 outings, but the last couple of games have not made for comfortable viewing. Daley Blind’s last-gasp equaliser at West Ham proved on the one hand that the Reds still have a ruthless knack of snatching important points but it also showed how narrowly a damaging defeat was averted. Then Burnley, spearheaded by energetic goalscorer Danny Ings, threatened to leave Old Trafford with at least a draw in midweek until substitute defender Chris Smalling became United's surprise hero. Preston, meanwhile, haven’t allowed a torrid run of January results to jeopardise their hopes of promotion from League One - they have won all of their February fixtures so far with victories over Coventry and Chesterfield following their FA Cup triumph over Sheffield United. An impressive run of seven straight successes earlier in the season elevated Preston into second spot, and the Lancashire club's promotion.
