Group E: Rangers v Vfb StuttgartThe Rangers manager Walter Smith's relish at returning to a competition he thought he would never tackle again has been tempered by selection troubles for Stuttgart's visit to Ibrox tonight.

Barry Ferguson, the Rangers captain, faces a fitness test this morning on a knee injury. The midfielder aggravated a knee ligament injury, which he had been carrying for several weeks, in training yesterday. He is likely to play, but Smith has endured a problematic run-up to the first match in Group E, which also includes Barcelona and Lyon. Lee McCulloch, another midfielder, is suspended.

"Barcelona are obviously the favourites for the group because of their pedigree," Smith said, "but if you are saying the champions of France and Germany will not put up a fight you are taking a big chance.

"We are a new team and a team whose challenge is to try and establish a pedigree. It is a tough task but this is where we want to be and we are hopeful that we can be competitive throughout the section."

In Smith's first spell at Ibrox he won three matches in 18 at this stage of the Champions League, and then periods with Everton and Scotland followed.

"The Champions League is the top club tournament in the world," said Smith.

"It is fantastic to be involved. I didn't really think I would get a shot at it again but now I'm determined to do well at it.

"We need to make sure our home form is good . . . and then see what we can take away from home. We are in a really tough section, where we have to take points wherever we can, but hopefully the home games give us a chance to do that."

Stuttgart, ninth in the Bundesliga, landed in Glasgow yesterday. The midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger failed to travel because of a poisoned toe.