PREVIEW-Soccer-Decade makes a difference as Hull head to United

LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - When Hull City take to the field at Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Saturday, the enormity of what they have achieved in the past 10 years is likely to hit them.

A decade ago Hull were on the brink of non-league obscurity, rooted to the bottom of the fourth division, while United were on their way to a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble.

Both clubs' fans would have sniggered at the suggestion they would be meeting for a top-flight match and laughed even more at the notion that Hull would be above United in the table.

The unimaginable has happened and the debutants will be hoping they can add the champions' name to their impressive list of scalps when they meet for the first time since 1987, when Hull lost 6-0 on aggregate in a League Cup tie.

Although given a harsh dose of reality in a 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea on Wednesday, fifth-placed Hull will be buoyed by the knowledge they have snatched three points at tough places including Arsenal's Emirates stadium.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger said this week that Hull had every right to be aiming high.

"Hull deserve a lot of credit. They have been the surprise package since the start of the league. They can dream of Europe. Why shouldn't they?" he told the club's website (arsenal.com).

"They are consistent, so you have to start taking them seriously at the top of the league."

United, two points and a place behind Hull with a game in hand, have made a stuttering start to the season but a 2-0 win over West Ham United midweek suggested it was only a matter of time before they catch up with the pacesetters.