Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson should be spoilt for choice up front on Tuesday in the Vodafone Cup.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to face his former side PSV Eindhoven at Old Trafford as is Louis Saha.
Both stayed behind to work on their fitness while United were away on a three-game 10-day tour of the United States.
And in their absence £7million buy Alan Smith staked a claim for regular start with a string of impressive displays.
While van Nistelrooy and Saha have been pencilled in for the start of the tournament, Darren Fletcher and Quinton Fortune are likely to face Urawa Red Diamonds on Thursday.
Ferguson said: 'The thing uppermost in my mind is how van Nistelrooy, Saha, Fletcher and Fortune are.
'If they have trained at the right levels then they will play.
'I am quite sure about van Nistelrooy and Saha for tomorrow and Thursday.
New Manchester United striker Alan Smith concedes he cannot wait to line up alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is currently excused from the club's tour of America.
The prolific Dutchman has been handed an extended rest because of his Euro 2004 exertions but Smith believes when he returns they will form a prolific partnership.
Smith joined Manchester United in acrimonious circumstances when he left hometown club Leeds United in a high profile move this summer.
However, the player is delighted to be handed an opportunity to play in his natural position and is relishing the prospect of being a striker next season.
''Playing alongside Ruud is an exciting prospect,'' said Smith.
''I have played with some top strikers in my time but there is something special about the thought of being alongside van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha.
''What is really exciting me is the prospect of playing solely as a striker. I can't remember the last time I played consecutive seasons up front.
''The manager has told me he wants me to stay up front and that's it. I think it will be great for me to concentrate on playing solely as a striker and getting goals.''
Smith is well aware that competition for places will be fierce next season but is ready for the challenge of cementing a place at Old Trafford.
''I accept that there will be four strikers competing for two places and that people will be rested from time to time,'' he continued.
''This is good because when you don't have somebody pushing you, your performance levels can dip.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is building a team to recapture the European Cup, according to Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Ferguson is relying on talented young players rather than superstars, van Nistelrooy told itv.com. United won the Champions League five years ago but was knocked out in the second round in 2003-04.
"The manager has unfolded his plans to me," van Nistelrooy said. "He explained to me what he wants to achieve in the end. We are building a team which can win the Champions League again."
Striker Alan Smith and Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze have signed in the offseason, while a deal for Celtic midfielder Liam Miller was agreed to last year.
Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher excelled last season, while defenders John O'Shea and Wes Brown are under 25.
"Arsenal and Chelsea have bigger squads and more star players," Van Nistelrooy said. "The manager here, though, has started to rebuild the team. He has chosen to do that with players who are young and talented instead of superstars."
Van Nistelrooy thinks United can cut the gap on Arsenal, which went undefeated in winning the Premier League in 2003-04. United was third, with Chelsea second.
"I am absolutely convinced that we will have a fantastic team next season," Van Nistelrooy said.
The KNVB have dropped their appeal against Ruud van Nistelrooy's two-match suspension.
Van Nistelrooy was punished by Uefa last week following his outburst at referee Anders Frisk after Holland's Euro 2004 semi-final defeat to Portugal.
The Dutch were prepared to lend their support to the Manchester United marksman by appealing against Uefa's verdict.
But after learning Uefa were ready to make a counter-appeal, which could lead to van Nistelrooy being banned for more games, the KNVB have scratched their initial complaint.
Instead, the Dutch are prepared to swallow the punishment which will see van Nistelrooy suspended for the opening two World Cup qualifiers in the autumn.
Van Nistelrooy will be banned for the game against Czech Republic in September and the clash with Macedonia in October as Holland start out on the road to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Holland defender Michael Reiziger reckons that international team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy is underrated.
Reiziger, who will come up against van Nistelrooy next season with new club Middlesbrough, insists the striker's knowledge of football sets him apart from others.
The Boro new-boy said: "Ruud is quality and he will give any defender a hard time. Ive been extremely fortunate to play on the same side as him with the Dutch national team.
"I sometimes feel that Ruud is very underrated in some respects. Im not talking about the clinical finishing. As a footballer he has the one of the quickest brains I have ever come across.
"He studies and knows the sport inside out. Hes a rare breed that leaves nothing to chance."
RUUD TO RETURN
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