Rangers move into their most serious action of the summer so far when they face Everton at Goodison Park tonight.
The closed doors' preparation is behind them, so is the public trial game which took place at Ibrox last Sunday, and now only tonight's game and the match against Stirling Albion on Saturday stand between Rangers and their preliminary round European Cup tie against GI Gotu in the Faroe Islands.
Manager Walter Smith is aware of this and stressed: ''I know this is a testimonial game but I always believe that you find this kind of match at the start of the season a little more competitive than they are at the end of the year.
''We shall be allowing most of the players the chance to play but it will be in our minds that we have three players who are suspended for the first game in the Faroes. Stensaas, Porrini, and Gascoigne all have match bans from last season's Champions' League hanging over them. They will play at some stage but we have to look to others who can play in the games and allow them the chance to get match practice.
''Andy Goram and Erik Bo Andersen still have injuries and it's unlikely that they will be taking part. We would hope to see Andy, in particular, in action at the weekend. But Tony Vidmar, who went over on an ankle, will be ready.
''Our other Australian, Craig Moore, though, returned after the summer break with a rib injury and I don't want to risk him too quickly in case he suffers further damage and is out for a longer period. We shall look at him before making any decisions.''
Smith is happy that because Everton are under new management - Howard Kendall is back in charge at Goodison - the players there will be eager to impress. He pointed out: ''There has been a lot of speculation regarding Everton and new players coming in and that will have those who are there already anxious to impress. That means the game will be competitive and that's what we want at this moment.
''We have to try to see how the team gels and the one way we can see that is under match conditions where there is a bit of an edge. I am sure that will be the case tonight. Then, if things go well, we can look forward to playing at Stirling with the team we want to use in the Faroes.''
Smith, though, needs to have them ready for Gotu. He knows he cannot fall at this first European hurdle because, as well as the embarrassment there would also be a massive loss of revenue for the Scottish champions. If they move past Gotu then lose to Gothenburg at least they will have the financial safety net of the UEFA Cup.
As regards tonight's game where Duncan Ferguson will face up to his old team if not too many of his old team-mates, Smith added: ''I would not like to think that the reason for the game is forgotten. It is a testimonial for Dave Watson, who has been a very, very good professional and a great servant for the club. I know how he helped us out at Highbury at the end of the season and his attitude that nightwas superb. I hope we can give him a night to remember and that he gets a really big crowd. He deserves that.''
q ABERDEEN yesterday appointed Jim Leighton as club captain. The Scottish inter-nationalist, who recently won his eighty-first cap, is seen by manager Roy Aitken as the ideal figure to lead the club forward and challenge Rangers' dominance of the premier division.
Meanwhile, Mike Newell could clinch a permanent deal with Aberdeen tonight with a good showing in a closed doors game at Brechin.
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