THERE will be little middle ground for Manchester City supporters tomorrow evening.

Either they will be in absolute rapture, their team having being crowned the best in the land for the first time in 44 years, or in the depths of despair, having let that opportunity slide out their hands on the final day of what has been a tumultuous campaign. Regardless, it has been a long road just to get to this point.

City have grown cold in Manchester United's shadow, watching on enviously as their rivals stockpiled trophies and enjoyed extended domestic and European success. For many years it was an imperfect competition. City had occasional glimpses of glory but spent most of their time thrashing around unsatisfactorily, even spending time in the third tier of English football just 13 years ago. They were forever the butt of jokes made by United fans – "because City are a massive club" they sang sarcastically – but there are few in the red half of Manchester laughing now. Parity has been restored.

It has taken vast sums of Middle Eastern money for City to reach a level where they can now be considered among the English elite but victory against Queens Park Rangers at home tomorrow will, almost certainly, confirm a first top division title since 1968 when Mike Summerbee, Franny Lee and Colin Bell were the heroes in sky blue.

The current crop assembled by Roberto Mancini may not be regarded with such affection given the fairly vulgar sums of money spent to take them to the Etihad Stadium but they will, in an instant, be swept into club folklore should they deliver the league championship. Their task would seem to be a fairly straight-forward one – beat a team struggling at the foot of the table, lift trophy – but there are several intriguing sub-plots, too.

Not only do QPR need to avoid defeat to be assured of staying up without needing help from elsewhere but they are also managed by Mark Hughes, Mancini's predecessor at City and a former United player. Motivation, then, for Hughes and his players will not be in short supply, although Mancini was wary of being drawn into talk about personal vendettas.

"I don't know him very well but it is not Mancini against Hughes, or Hughes against Mancini," said the Italian. "It is City against QPR. One team plays for the title, the other plays [to avoid] relegation. They want to do everything to stay in the Premier League and for this reason I think it will be a tough game."

United finished second when City last won the title and it is they who lie in wait again this time. Level on points with City but eight goals worse off, Sir Alex Ferguson's side can only hope to beat Sunderland away from home and that City somehow slip up. It is not the position the Scot wants to find himself in but he is not completely without hope. "It is a last game of the season thriller," he said. "It is fantastic for the neutral and agony for both clubs. I expect Manchester City to win. But as long as human beings are what they are, you never know. You just hope something stupid happens."

Ferguson's hope is that his former striker Hughes has a long memory and puts it to good use. "Revenge is never a word I use," he added. "I don't think it is productive. But it would be ironic if that were to happen [and QPR got a result].

"The way he was sacked was terrible. His wife knew before him. It was a shock at the time but I don't think that will matter to Mark that much. He was a warrior as a player and all his teams seem to mirror him."

Mancini guided City to their first silverware in 35 years with FA Cup success last season but the pressure is now on to end their league drought. The Italian is proud of his side's efforts so far but can feel the weight of history and wants to finish the job for the sake of supporters.

"It is a big game for Manchester City because it would be the first title after a long time. I am very proud – I think my players have worked very well this year," he said. "We would like to win this championship for our supporters. After more than 40 years, for them, it will be very important."