Complacency the danger

Rangers v Panathinaikos Ibrox, 7

Rangers v Panathinaikos Ibrox, 7.45Alex McLeish has warned his Rangers players that Panathinaikos will not be Greeks bearing gifts to Ibrox tonight and that the Scots will have to earn the right to remain in Europe.

The Rangers manager is concerned that his players may think they need only turn up to secure the point they need to gain third place in Group E and New Year relegation into the UEFA Cup.

Panathinaikos could pip Rangers if they win or secure a high-scoring draw.

"We'll need a big performance because Panathinaikos have a good pedigree," McLeish said.

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"We learned a hard lesson when they got a late equaliser in Athens that these games are never over until the final whistle. At least now our destiny is in our own hands."

The points dropped to a goal from Pantelis Konstantinidis have haunted Rangers.

Victory, after an opening win over VfB Stuttgart, might have eased the pressure in the double-header against Manchester United.

Tonight they will be missing the likes of Mikel Arteta, Ronald de Boer, Craig Moore and Stevie Thompson, while their influential striker Shota Arveladze is struggling to overcome an ankle injury.

"I hope to have him available," McLeish said," but whether he starts is another matter."

McLeish could start the team that began strongly against Dundee United at the weekend, which would mean Nuno Capucho continuing to play in his new role through the middle rather than wide on the right.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

RANGERS (4-4-2): Klos; Ricksen, Khizanishvili, Berg, Ball; Burke, Hughes, Emerson, Lovenkrands; Nuno Capucho, Mols.

PANATHINAIKOS (4-4-2): Nikopolidis; Henriksen, Morris, Goumas, Munch; Basinas, Zutautas, Michaelsen, Konstantinidis; Konstantinou, Papadopoulos.