Man Utd Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is confident United will benefit from the additional week's training and is virtually certain to make changes.
At least for Carrick that will not involve an appearance in central defence as it did in the corresponding fixture last term.
Then, in a pre-Christmas fixture in the depths of the worst defensive injury crisis Ferguson had ever known, Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Ritchie de Laet formed a United back three that clung on for 20 minutes but eventually subsided to a three-goal defeat.
The previous season, Paul Scholes and Rooney were both sent off in another United loss, so Ferguson accepts there is plenty of room for improvement.
"We have had a topsy-turvy time on the last two occasions we have been to Fulham," he admitted.
"We had nine men two years ago and last season we had gone just too far with the injuries.
"It was a fragile team, with players playing out of position and the regular defenders all missing.
"In that situation, when you lose a goal it becomes very difficult, which is exactly what happened."
United's only injuries at the present time are long-term ones.
The 31-year-old has long since been ruled out of the Fulham trip as Ferguson goes head-to-head with Mark Hughes, a man he feels is perfect for the Cottagers post Roy Hodgson.
"Mark's experience at Blackburn makes him ideal for Fulham," said the United chief.
"They are similar-sized clubs, although what happened to Fulham last season won't happen again.
"What they did, with such a small squad, was almost a miracle.
"They played 63 matches, starting in July and ended up at the Europa League final in Hamburg. It was quite phenomenal."