Aberdeen
v Dundee
Hibernian v
Rangers
HE MAY have succeeded Marco Negri as the forgotten Italian at Ibrox, but Sergio Porrini seems destined to jog people's memories today at Easter Road when he is expected to make what would be only his second start of the season against Hibs.
The 32-year-old was as close to an ever-present as any other player in most of his first three terms at the club but now, after a long injury absence, has been struggling to be part of the scene again.
The advent of 24-year-old Fernando Ricksen has relegated the former Juventus player into second or maybe third choice for the right defensive role that used to be all his own, but he accepts it with an admirable equanimity and, indeed, points out that when he was young he wanted to steal one of the older guys' jerseys, too.
Ricksen is one of a bundle of Rangers players who are out injured and, with Lorenzo Amoruso suspended, one of the spaces in defence looks likely to be filled by Porrini.
''It is nice to be back in the squad,'' says the man who expects to end his career at Ibrox when his contract runs out at the end of the season, ''and it would be great to be playing. But I understand that in a team like Rangers, as it was at Juventus, there are 23 or 24 players all wanting to play.
''Fernando has great quality and he will get over his tough time at the beginning if he stays calm and works hard. It is common for new young players coming to a club like this to find it difficult to begin with but he is a very good player and I have no doubt he will go on to be a great Rangers player.''
Porrini has played only one full game, against Herfolge in the Champions League qualifying game against Denmark back in August, and admits he needs more action, despite having played a couple of reserve games, to reach match fitness.
''I would just like to be involved in the squad again and playing would be a big bonus. I spoke to the chairman and the manager last season and I know what my situation is. I was the first choice but not any longer. I am getting old.
''I don't know of any interest from Italy but my agent will have been talking to many people. I want to enjoy the rest of my time with Rangers. I will take great memories back with me, the most important being my daughter Lucretia, who was born here. She will always remind me of Scotland but I have also made many friends and we settled here very easily.
''Of course, it would a big thing for me to get a game in the Champions League because it will probably be the last time I will be able to play in that competition. The same applies to the Old Firm game which is almost impossible to describe, the atmosphere is so amazing.''
Porrini has been highly impressed with Hibs and anticipates a very tough game at Easter Road. His compatriot, Negri, has been left out of the squad after his reappearance against Dundee United but former Hibs man Kenny Miller is included.
Meanwhile, Hibs coach Alex McLeish made it clear last night that it was vital for the well-being of Scottish football that his side, as well as teams like Kilmarnock, kept up the pressure on the Old Firm.
Hibs are sandwiched between Celtic and Rangers and today's game at Easter Road will be a strong strength of their character. Many had expected the Easter Road side's bubble to burst long before this but McLeish believes they are good enough to keep the challenge going for a while at least.
''I am not going to make any boasts, any predictions, but clearly we are happy at the way we have started the season,'' he said.
A measure of the faith he has in the players at his disposal is the fact he he could afford to allow midfielder Grant Brebner to go on a three-month loan deal to first division Stockport County yesterday.
McLeish had signed Brebner for #400,000 and handed him a five-year contract, but despite showing such faith, the midfielder has only been a fringe player all season and has made just one substitute's appearance in the league.
McLeish said Brebner's loan deal was simply to keep the player's fitness up and he fully expected him to return in the new year to challenge for a first-team place.
Although Rangers have injury problems for today's game, McLeish said everything was relative and the Ibrox club having doubts over some players wasn't like other teams struggling with injuries.
''Rangers have great strength in depth and that is why they keep winning the league,'' said McLeish. ''They may have injury problems but the boys who come in for them will be out to prove to Dick Advocaat that they are good enough to play every week. Certainly Rangers' resources are such that the reserves they bring in will probably cost around #2m or #3m.''
McLeish believes that as well as benefiting Scottish football, the Old Firm would be relishing the fact that teams like Hibs were putting in a decent league challenge.
''Teams like us and Kilmarnock doing well in the league and taking the occasional points off the Old Firm close things up a bit and it also helps both Celtic and Rangers as they have been lamenting the shortage of competition in Scotland.''
McLeish said all his players who had been on international duty had come back fit and well and it is likely he will play the same team who beat St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
''We are going into today's game looking to win,'' said McLeish. ''The team are playing with great confidence just now and there is no reason why, if we play to our very best, we cannot win.''
McLeish called on Easter Road supporters to give their former striker Kenny Miller a warm welcome if he played today and said the youngster had ''taken the oppor-tunity of a lifetime'' and shouldn't be criticised for making the move to Ibrox.
BOOKIES' VIEW: Hibs 4-1, Rangers 8-11, draw 13-5.
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