ALEX McLeish knows only too well that football is not played on paper, but it is certainly won and lost in the head.

The man who spent eight years in charge of the fortunes of both Rangers and Hibernian admits that there has probably never been a game like tonight's Scottish Premiership play-off semi-final, first-leg at Ibrox.

McLeish delivered two league titles and five trophies to Rangers in his five seasons as manager, and earned promotion for Hibs back into the top-flight in 1999. Yet, he believes the fear of losing for both clubs in this post-season duel make this harder that any title or cup triumph.

McLeish will be analysing events from Ibrox for BT Sport and confesses that he has doubts about Hibs ability to handle pressure. He says there is a question mark over the Edinburgh club's 'bottle.'

"Whoever throws the shackles off can be the ones that triumph in this battle," said McLeish yesterday. "That will not be easy because it's a different type of prize and a different type of era for both clubs where the fear factor will be a big element in the emotions of the whole game.

"The team which can throw off those fear factors, will be the team that triumphs. I don't think there is much between them in terms of overall quality, there's not a gulf.

"Obviously, Hearts romped the Championship but these two were pretty close. Hibs are on a winning run compared to last season's play-off but there is a big 'if' factor when they have big games.

"They just had the semi-final of the Scottish Cup last month against Falkirk and were expected to go to the final and it was a crushing blow to the fans to lose. But, on paper, Hibs are favourites. That is what I can see from the statistics. Yet, I feel the big thing is the bottle of the Hibs team.

"They have had a lot of time to prepare for this. Hibs will certainly lack match practice. However, I think it will be like a World Cup qualifier for them in that this is all they are preparing for.

"I think Hibs have to prove something to themselves. They have still got to win a big game. I can remember back in my Aberdeen days going down to Glasgow and Alex Ferguson said you have to get over that hurdle. He has the first manager to take on the Old Firm in their own backyard and that got Aberdeen off and running. Hibs have to prove themselves that they can do that.

"If I was Hibs manager, I would point out to the players the evidence of their performances against Rangers so far. Sure, Rangers won the last one at Easter Road but if you go over the evidence of the season and brainwash the guys into seeing that evidence that they can handle Rangers. Now can they do it in the last moment, in the play-offs? That is the big question. And that is probably when the advantage shifts to Rangers.

"Rangers still have a lot of players who have been through that 'bottle factor' that we speak about with Hibs. I don't think they are short on quality. Not with guys like Kenny Miller. They have been through things before and have that winning mentality. The Hibs guys have still to prove that.

"Stuart is more experienced but Alan is a young manger trying to establish himself and likes to go for it. If he can emerges as the Hibs hero and take them back to the Premiership."

McLeish left Rangers in the same season that he took them to the last 16 of the Champions League, but he empathised with McCall's burden even if the bar seems much lower now for an Ibrox manager.

"That is a modern-day trend for managers," he said. "With the fickleness over results and the demands it creates. Stuart should be in the mix for the Rangers job but the way that football is now you get judged game to game.

"I'm often asked if I would come back to Scotland. You can never say never but right now my future plans are outwith Scotland. But the lure of that club is attractive to a lot of people."

* BT Sport will show every game from the Premiership Play-Offs exclusively live including both legs of the Semi-Final between Rangers and Hibernian on BT Sport 1. Coverage of the first leg starts at 7pm tonight with the second leg live from 11.30am on Saturday 23rd May.'