As United prepare to fly out to South Africa to compete in the Vodacom Challenge, Sir Alex Ferguson is confident the trip will yield important benefits.

The Barclays Premier League champions leave Manchester on Thursday afternoon and will touch down in Cape Town, where they meet Kaizer Chiefs at the Newlands Stadium on Saturday 19 July.

Orlando Pirates pose the next challenge, in Durban’s ABSA Stadium on Tuesday 22 July, before the Reds face one of the sides again in the final at Loftus Stadium, Tshwane on Saturday 26 July.

United’s pre-season preparations will then take the squad to Nigeria, where they’ll play Portsmouth in Abuja on Sunday 27 July.

Last time United travelled to South Africa for the competition, in 2006, the Reds lost to Kaizer Chiefs on penalties in the final. Sir Alex is expecting this year’s tournament to prove just as taxing.

“The games in South Africa aren’t easy games,” he told MUTV. “It’s a good, competitive level, so that should bring us on a good deal.

“I think by the time we get to the start of the season we’ll be really ready.”

You can watch all United’s pre-season football on MUTV or MUTV Online.