DURBAN – The 19-time English champions arrived in the country on Monday night on the first stop of a world tour, which also includes a visit to China and three European countries.

They are without big names Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Nani, all of whom did duty at the recent Euro 2012 and have been left at home to recuperate.

United are looking to put behind them a forgettable 12 months in which they failed to win a major trophy, an unusual occurrence in recent seasons.

“We won’t be treating this lightly, we never do,” Ferguson said yesterday.

“It’s an important start to a season after the disappointment of last year.

Obviously we want to recover that title – that’s our priority No 1 this year, winning that title back,” he added.

Ferguson said he hoped for a good game against AmaZulu and said his players had been training for 10 days and were ready.

“They need a game now and hopefully it will be one we’re all going to enjoy.”

Ferguson urged South African supporters not to be too despondent over the absence of some of their key men, including Ryan Giggs.

The legendary Welshman is preparing with the British Olympic football team for the Games that begin later in July.

“I know there’ll be disappointment from many fans because we don’t see Rooney, (Ashley) Young, (Phil) Jones and a few others who were at the European Championships but it  is naturally difficult to bring them after such a difficult  competition.

“But the fans here should know that we still have some quality players here like Rio (Ferdinand), Michael Carrick, (Antonio) Valencia, Chicharito, our new signings (Shinji) Kagawa and (Nick) Powell.

“There’s also an opportunity to see some young potential at the football club, like we’ve brought through over the years.

“You never knew  which of them will go on to achieve great things.”

Ferguson, whose team also play Ajax Cape Town on the tour, confirmed Ferdinand, Carrick, Scholes, Valencia and Chicharito will all start, along with  new Japanese recruit Kagawa.

AmaZulu will use tonight’s match in Durban to mark the official start of their 80th anniversary festivities.