LYON, France (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson heaped praise on Ryan Giggs ahead of the winger's 100th Champions League appearance in the first knockout round first leg at Olympique Lyon on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old former Wales international is set to become the eighth man to play in 100 games in the competition, a list that includes former United team mate David Beckham (103).

"There are only a few players who've reached that milestone," Ferguson told a news conference on Tuesday before giving the reasons for Giggs's achievement. "One is his ability, two is longevity, three is how he prepares himself and has good lifestyle.

"Ryan has been an absolute model. Even at 34 we expect big, big things from him.

"We don't play him in every game but that's absolutely normal for someone that age. We want to play him in the games that absolutely matter and one of them is tomorrow."

United were also in France a year ago for a game at Lille in the first leg of last season's first knockout round.

It was Giggs, with a quickly-taken free kick, who scored the winner in a 1-0 victory in a match full of incident.

"Ryan has always reserved his best performances for the big occasions," Ferguson said of a player who joined United in 1990 and made his debut in the old Division One the following year.

Giggs, who retired from international football last year, won his ninth English title when he helped United to the Premier League crown last season.

"He has produced many great moments for us," Ferguson said. "This is a big occasion for him. We're all proud of him."

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)