United and City are limping into the first Mancunian showdown of the season following midweek Champions League defeats. Yet their dominance of the Premier League scene is such that the pair have already established a massive advantage over third-placed Chelsea of 10 points in United's case, and seven for City.
"It doesn't mean anything extra because it is City," said Giggs. "There are different rivalries. Liverpool has always been the biggest rival for me. It has always been the biggest test."
He added: "Arsenal were a brilliant team and we had some ferocious battles with them. Chelsea were also a brilliant team under (Jose) Mourinho and now City are a good team as well.
"The added dynamic is that they are on our doorstep. But we still want to win the league no matter who we are competing against."
It is well over two decades ago now that Giggs turned up for training at City's youth set-up wearing a United kit, eventually jumping at the chance to switch to the club he supported and has now made 920 appearances after captaining the Red Devils in their 1-0 Champions League defeat to CFR Cluj last night.
Until 2008, the thought City might actually deprive him of silverware was laughable.
Sheikh Mansour's deep pockets have changed all that though.
And whilst Giggs agrees with Sir Alex Ferguson's assessment that Chelsea cannot be written off, after losing out on goal difference to a side they failed to collect a single point off in their two meetings last term, the Welshman is aware how significant Sunday's game can be.
"We have found over the last couple of years that the derby, with the money City have spent and the quality they have brought in, has got bigger and bigger," said Giggs. "The two games against them were the difference last season. Hopefully we can get the right result and that will be the difference come the end of this season."
Source: PA
Source: PA