SO long has passed since Motherwell last won at Ibrox that Stuart McCall was still a Rangers player when it happened.

Well, on the books at least. McCall insists he was sitting in the stand nursing an injury on May 5, 1997 when Alex McLeish's Motherwell side came to Ibrox and delayed Rangers' nine-in-a-row celebrations by winning 2-0 courtesy of a double from Owen Coyle.

"I'd had an Achilles operation and was watching from the club deck," insisted McCall. "Owen Coyle scored when the place was set for a party."

It remains a significant day in Motherwell's history for two reasons. Firstly because it helped them retain their Premier League status that season. And, secondly, because they have not repeated the feat at any point in the subsequent 18 years. This evening, in the first leg of the SFPL Premiership play-off final, would be a good time to put that right.

They are not the only provincial club to own a less than impressive record away to either half of the Old Firm but it is something that obviously rankles. McCall knows from first-hand experience how frustrating that can be. As Motherwell manager, his record against Rangers read one draw and seven defeats. In the four matches played at Ibrox, Motherwell failed to score a goal and were bludgeoned 6-0 in McCall's first game back to the ground he had graced as a player for seven years.

There were the inevitable accusations that Motherwell were not trying as hard as they ought to, or that they were not strong enough mentally to cope with playing at a ground like Ibrox, back when it was full every week. Now on the other side of the fence, it would suit McCall to further perpetuate that line of thinking ahead of a two-legged final that will determine whether Rangers are playing top-flight football next year or not. Instead, however, he believes Motherwell simply came up against better players back then.

"I think the bookies have Rangers as slight favourites [to win the play-offs] but that's in part down to the record Motherwell have had at Ibrox down the years," he said. "I've been there and it's not been good. My first game was in a League Cup semi final against Rangers at Hampden. Las [Keith Lasley] scored and we lost 2-1.

"Motherwell played well but you looked at it later and Steve Davis knocked in a ball for [Nikica] Jelavic and he knocked it down for [Steven] Naismith. As much as you can question mentality, Rangers had good players. If you look now they are all playing top end of the Premier League. If you go to Ibrox or Parkhead and don't get off to a good start then it can be intimidating. That's what we hope for tomorrow - to make it as intimidating as we can."

Rangers have gradually rebuilt their squad following the mass exodus of the sort of names McCall mentioned following liquidation in 2012. Motherwell, in contrast, have been a Premier League side throughout that period, albeit one that has operated with an ever-diminishing budget. There is little to divide the two teams in terms of quality these days, meaning it may simply come down to bottle, determination and other intangibles over 180 (or more) tense minutes to see who emerges triumphant.

It is a final where only one of the two combatants wants to be there. Rangers are motivated by the carrot of promotion, the return of Old Firm games and other perks of Premiership football, Motherwell by the stick of what relegation and a drop out of the top division for the first time in 30 years could bring. It is fear against optimism and Dean Shiels thinks that could work in Rangers' favour.

"It does come down to the mentality and maybe they are feeling a bit low at the moment whereas we're on the up," said the midfielder. "I know what it's like when you're getting beat and you're dropping down the league, it's not nice. I think obviously we'll try and use that to our advantage. But obviously they're a good side, they've got players that can hurt us and we've still got a job to do."

For McCall, there is the added element of having to relegate some old friends from Fir Park. It is an angle he is trying not to dwell on unduly, preferring to focus on taking Rangers into the top division as was his goal when he was appointed interim manager in March.

"When we first came in we gave the players two objectives," he added. "One was to make sure we were involved in the final game on May 31, and the second was to make sure we finish the job.

"As a player you just wanted to win and play in front of the biggest crowds - that doesn't change when you're a coach. After my first two games here if you said we'd be running out to a full house on our final game I wouldn't have thought that would happen. That's why I'm really excited by the game."