the south west of the country can often seem remote.

The struggle for attention is not helped by the region's senior clubs being similarly divorced from success, but they will be made to feel like the centre of the world over the next two weeks. That is down to the clamour that continues to follow Rangers.

The matinee performance will come from the Ibrox club's reserve side, who will face Annan Athletic in the opening match of the Scottish Football League reserve season. The hosts' Galabank ground will then be filled to capacity the following Saturday as 2500 supporters squeeze in to see Rangers' latest outing in the third division. Those in the home end will hope it proves to be as uncomfortable as their other league trips have been.

Dumfries side Queen of the South will then head to Ibrox for the quarter-finals of the Ramsdens Cup. Visiting fans will arrive clinging to thoughts of their valiant Scottish Cup final defeat in 2008; that will feel like a different era to both their club and their hosts.

Galabank also has a more modern feel to it these days, the third division club having installed an artificial surface at Galabank over the summer. The additional work that goes into containing the bumper crowd expected in a week's time has exacerbated their endeavours, but the club are focused on the future benefits.

"Getting the ground to the standard it is in just now has been a tremendous task over and with the Rangers game on top of that, it has just been incredible," said Henry McClelland, the Annan chairman. "But getting Galabank to the way it is now is far more important and the Rangers game is a bonus.

"The important thing here is the change at the ground. These changes will be here for a while but Rangers will be gone in one season, we expect."

Queens will begin preparations for their trip tomorrow when tickets go on sale. Allan Johnston's side have started the campaign in rude form and a chance to test themselves against Rangers will feel like a justifiable reward. "It gives them a chance to play against big names," said the Queens manager.