MAYBE it is as well that Rangers go into the last game of a long

season without needing any points, other than as fillip to take away for

the hols. They have now reached the stage where the players may have to

book in advance if they want places in the treatment room.

Their manager, Walter Smith, said yesterday that, of the 51 on the

playing staff, 31 were out of action with various injuries which, even

utilising flawed arithmetic powers, means he has only six players above

what is required for duty in the premier-division game with Partick

Thistle.

As a fair number of them, if not all, do not take much time to shave

in the morning, it means those who can stand up straight will be asked

to finish the season in style. Fortunately, he is able to name an eleven

which contains only one of the younger brigade, although all the

substitutes will be from the youth squad.

The odd one out at the start will be full back Neil Caldwell, a

Rangers Boys' Club recruit, but he is in the unique position of knowing

in advance that he is making his one and only appearance for the first

team. The 19-year-old has been at Ibrox for almost three years. He will

not forget the last day of the '94-95 season, whoever else does.

Twenty-year-old Neil Inglis, will be the substitute goalie, and will

also be allowed to leave the club. But the two other replacements will

be chosen from a trio of younger lads, 18-year-old Ian Nicholson,

18-year-old Paul McKnight, and 17-year-old Paul McShane.

''The youth team won the Youth Cup so we will want to give one or two

of these lads the chance at some stage to show what they can do,'' said

Smith.

It may have taken until the last day of the season, but that makes it

no less an event to be able to announce an Ibrox side (or any other, for

that matter) before the team sheets appear on the day of the game. The

numbers may vary, but the line-up is: Maxwell, Caldwell, McLaren, Moore,

Cleland, Durie, Steven, Durrant, Mikhailichenko, Hateley, and Laudrup.

''We have had to overcome injuries all season,'' said the manager,

''but I think you could say it is now chaotic.''

Smith is not inclined to get involved in the series of Gazza stories

now taking on soap opera status, leaving the matter to rest where it was

when he last spoke -- that the player, his representatives, and Rangers

will get together again when the time comes for more talking to be done.

Partick Thistle will make the short trip across the city in relaxed

mood after having secured their premier future for another season last

week.

Their manager, John Lambie, shows that he already has an eye to next

term by leaving out Steve Pittman and Derek McWilliams, both in line for

suspension if they suffer another booking. ''I don't want to be starting

next season the same way as we had to last year,'' said the manager, who

also decided to drop, and free, another player who could have picked up

a booking and early suspension.

Lambie and the inimitable, but trouble-prone Chic Charnley will part

company again -- on good terms, according to the Thistle chief.

Nothing much will change, whatever the result at Ibrox, but the

Rangers fans will at least be able to indulge in their familiar

celebration ditties again as the League trophy is presented after the

game by Lord Fraser.

There will be no lack of good humour at Rugby Park, either, where

Kilmarnock fans will be delighted to mark the end of a fine season in

which their new manager and new stadium have proved a good match. They

will have a determined Hibs to take on, of course, as the Easter Road

team still like the idea of finishing third in the table, although their

UEFA Cup hopes have disappeared.

Hibs welome back Darren Jackson after suspension but Gordon Hunter

begins his enforced absence, while four players are due fitness tests --

Keith Wright, Mickey Weir, Kevin Harper, and Michael O'Neill.

Two of the Easter Road men have signed new two-year contracts, Gareth

Evans and Jim Leighton. The keeper thus completes a remarkable return to

the forefront, having re-established himself as a Scottish

intenationalist.

* RANGERS continuing injury problems mean that the Old Firm Premier

Reserve League match today against Celtic has been postponed.

After Celtic last night agreed, the Scottish league gave the go-ahead

for the game to be held over until Monday, the final day of the reserve

league season.

The game will be at Cliftonhill, Coatbridge, with a 1.0 kick-off.

Meanwhile, Celtic yesterday were presented with the Youth League

championship trophy before a 1-1 draw with Rangers.

ST MIRREN yesterday handed five players free transfers, including

David Byrne, a recent signing from Partick Thistle.

The others are Jim Gardner and Kenny Gillies, who have both played

regularly in the first team, Scott Harvie and Martin Hick.

And Saints may lose another five first team men, because they are out

of contract. Captain Norrie McWhirter, under-21 cap Jamie Fullarton,

Barry McLaughlin, Alex Bone and goalkeeper Alan Combe have all been

retained, but manager Jimmy Bone admitted: ''I don't have the finance to

offer them a re-signing fee.''