Manchester United are sending their groundsman to Shanghai to make sure there is no repeat of the pitch farce that marred their last visit to China.
The first derby on foreign soil against Manchester City was scrapped three years ago after torrential downpours left the surface at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing unplayable.
United's first game of that tour against Borussia Dortmund at the Shanghai Stadium was also played on a poor pitch.
It was by no means the first time English clubs have encountered problems staging pre-season friendlies in the Far East during rainy season, and thunderstorms are forecast for next week when United are due to meet Tottenham at the Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai on Thursday.