aTwo of the players involved in the fight for first-team positions at Ibrox in the coming season - and that will be a recurring feature now that coach Dick Advocaat appears to have two top players for almost every position - talked yesterday of the challenges they will face.

Central defender Craig Moore, who is preferred to Scotland captain Colin Hendry by the coach, and goalkeeper Stefan Klos, who duels for his place with Frenchman Lionel Charbonnier, both accepted that uncertainty over a top-team place is now part and parcel of life with the Scottish champions.

Moore, who left last season for a short sojourn with financially troubled English first division club Crystal Palace in London, returned to find himself injured in training after making just a single Preemier League appearance.

Now he is back in Norway for the pre-season training and admitting that he never thought six months ago that this would ever have happened. Grinning, he said: ''If anyone had said to me back at the turn of the year that I would be here doing pre-season work with Rangers, I would not have believed them.

''It had been a difficult decision for me to leave the club and go south, but I did so and I enjoyed the experience until everything went pear-shaped for Palace off the field. Then I had the opportunity to come back to Scotland and I didn't hesitate.

''It was much easier to make the decision to return to Rangers because I knew that, before I left, Dick Advocaat had given me the opportunity to play in the centre of the defence, which I always thought was my best position.

''I had enjoyed working with him and that made it easier to come back. I knew that I would be playing where I want to play, where I play my best football.

''The gaffer has not said anything to me about being first choice for the team. I only know what I have read in the news- papers so far, but I always felt that the season would see everyone start off with a clean slate and that was okay by me.

''I know one thing - that if you start in the team then the gaffer will stand by you. He would only drop a player if he had really lost form or if he was injured or suspended.

''He has a strong squad and if you look through every area of the team then you will see that there is not just competition in central defence, where I am playing, it's the same in goal, at full back, in midfield, and up front. It's obviously going to be good for Rangers.''

Moore missed out on the Australian show game against Manchester United yesterday but maintained: ''I had to try to get my full fitness back. That was more important as far as I was concerned.

''I was out for four or five months with medial ligament damage and, while I did not need an operation, I did require six to eight weeks total rest and then I had to work to rebuild the muscles around the damaged knee. So a friendly didn't seem to be worth interrupting that fitness programme.''

The German, Stefan Klos, bought from Borussia Dortmund at the turn of the year, has also missed out once more on a German call-up, with the national coach, Erich Ribbeck, continuing to discount Klos' claims.

The goalkeeper shrugs that off, saying: ''I knew the situation before I left Germany and, in any case, the next German international match is scheduled for the same date as our European match against the Finnish champions - who look like being in the next round - and that is a vital game for the club.

''Look, being the Rangers goalkeeper is my main job and I like the job and want to keep it.''

As for the challenge he faces from Charbonnier, Klos insists: ''There is always a challenge when you are at the top as a professional player. I have had that before in my career and I think it makes you a better professional when you face up to that kind of situation.

''If you want success in the game then you have to confront this. It is a normal situation with a big club. Dick Advocaat has not talked to me about keeping my place yet, but I shall simply continue to do what I have done throughout my career. This is nothing new for me.''

Advocaat, like every coach, will welcome the competition in the squad. His aim has been to have two players for every position and he is close to achieving that.

All of which will place him in an enviable position as Europe looms and as a lengthy season stretches ahead of the club.

As Klos says: ''This will be a long, long season. It will be long for German clubs and for Dutch clubs, but even more so for Scottish clubs when you remember that we will be playing in Europe in less than two weeks.''

All the playing resources put together by Advocaat will be needed.

Referring to his side's refusal to attend the Scottish Premier League's inquiry into the infamous Old Firm match of May 2, scheduled for today but now postponed until a later date, Advocaat said: ''I have said the same thing all along, that Rangers did nothing wrong in the game. Look at the video and you will see that.

''I discussed that with the chairman at the time and we have spoken since and I support whatever action he decided upon. Rangers have nothing to answer for, but Mr Murray is dealing with the matter.''