FROM his emergence as a reluctant right-back, Australian Craig Moore has evolved into the central pillar of Rangers' rearguard.

Following the departure of Lorenzo Amoruso, the highest-profile victim of Rangers'

emergency cost-cutting exercise, Moore will become the key man in the defence of the domestic grand slam and orchestrator of an eagerly-awaited return to the Champions League reckoning.

He might also be the only survivor from last season's regular quartet. With Arthur Numan having run himself into semi-retirement, awaiting an offer to wind down in the hassle-free environment of Major League Soccer, Amoruso offered long-term security at Blackburn Rovers and Fer-nando Ricksen likely to return from his midfield sabbatical, Moore finds himself with the responsibility not only to continue his own considerable development, but to harmonise goalkeeper Stefan Klos' last line of protection.

For someone who has had his fair share of partners and positions during a decade of service interrupted only by an unfulfilling eight-month break with Crystal Palace, Moore is unfazed by the increased onus on his organisational skills.

''When I was younger I was not the first choice so I was in and out during the time of Richard Gough and John Brown,'' he recalled. ''Then I got to play alongside Colin Hendry but I really enjoyed my time with Amoruso because it was with him I had the longest spell with a settled partner. In football, though, players come and go.''

To that end, Emerson Thome, the strapping, sallow-skinned Brazilian released by Sunderland, and David May, a rather pasty-faced alternative hailing latterly from Old Trafford, have extra incentive to impress on Rangers' pre-season tune-up in Germany.

It is likely only one will be offered an extended stay. With the suspicion growing that Zurab Khizanishvili will be considered primarily for a midfield role, the winner would appear to be a direct replacement for Amoruso.

''They have settled in probably even better than both would have expected,'' said Moore. ''They have a couple of games over here to prove themselves but both have more experience than myself.''

Which brings us to Bob Malcolm, the homegrown slab of a man who, at least among the media and fans, seems to have been ignored in the great debate regarding the successor to the irrepressible Italian.

His has been a similarly punctuated progression to Moore's but, at 23, he is now approaching the make-or-break phase of his Rangers career. ''I don't see why not,'' offered Moore when asked if the Lanarkshire lad could stake a regular claim.

''He started several games last season and we knew that if we let our standards slip, he was breathing down our necks for the position.''

Unsurprised by the FIFA bureaucracy which will make Australia's bid to reach the next World Cup finals more difficult, of more immediate concern than Sepp Blatter's U-turn on his decision to grant the winners of the Oceania group automatic qualification is the UEFA club competition in which success has proved elusive of late.

With debts of (pounds) 62m, Rangers' need to emulate the class of 1992 is greater than ever before. The Scottish champions must overcome nervy preliminary rounds in order to rake in some much-needed revenue, though.

Though professional pride is the prime motivation for McLeish's squad, the benefits to the club of a sustained run are not lost on them, either.

''Obviously, we are looking to get through to the group stages because everyone wants the opportunity to play at that level,'' said Moore. ''The [financial] state of football at the moment makes it even more important to help the club out.''

The team play their first game of the tour this evening against a Bundesliga II side, the catchy SPVVG Greuther Furth. As well as Thome and May, McLeish will assess Alan Wright, the 31-year-old former Aston Villa defender who has arrived as potential cover for Michael Ball in the left-back position, for which there is little other provision.

''He has agreed to train with a view to joining the club because we need to strengthen that position,'' said McLeish, who also confirmed that the young striker, Steven MacLean, is in negotiations with Barnsley regarding a year-long loan.