Smith tries to recognise right men for the job

significance to their club of European football and every one of them

wants to play his part tonight in Athens. However, only a handful of

players are guaranteed places, and perhaps one or two established

first-team members will have to sit out the first leg of Rangers'

European Cup preliminary tie.

Although the players know very little about their opponents, AEK

Athens, Walter Smith has looked closely at the Greek champions and his

starting team will be the one which he feels can best cope with their

strengths.

The manager believes AEK to be strong through midfield to attack, and

the chances are he may look at a system which will have five in midfield

with Mark Hateley hoping to feed off them. If Smith does indeed go for

that formation, Rangers' most prolific goalscorer Ally McCoist might be

frozen out.

The supporters -- around 700 are expected to travel -- might be

bemused, but if their favourite striker is left out, it could be the

start of a series of omissions with manager Smith predicting: ''The

recognised Rangers team might change quite a bit this season.''

The idea of playing a heavily-populated midfield with Brian Laudrup

operating just behind Hateley has obvious appeal, but Smith was

unwilling to offer many clues as to his intention and his deliberations

were being made harder by an injury to John Brown.

The central defender hurt his back in training a couple of days ago,

and he was monitored closely during training at the match venue, the

Nikos Goumas Stadium, last night. A decision on Brown's fitness will be

made later today.

Smith may have to go to plan B which might involve playing a non-Scot,

perhaps Australian Craig Moore or Gary Stevens, at the back.

With Hateley and Laudrup starting, Trevor Steven would have to be left

on the bench. ''Hateley is the type of player the Greeks will not have

encountered too often,'' Smith said, ''and, if we defend well, we should

have opportunities to get the ball forward.

''Defending well will be

crucial, but it would be folly to think only in terms of sitting back.

We have players who could cause them problems, and it may be vital to

have someone like Laudrup who can take the ball and relieve pressure on

the defence.''

Smith added that Laudrup will be allowed freedom to express himself

and it has become clear very quickly that Rangers are expecting a major

contribution from the Dane.

While the other newcomer, Basile Boli, has predicted great things

ahead, Laudrup is much more reserved. ''It is nice that people think I

will be able to do something but I am only one man and all I can do is

my best,'' Laudrup said.

Having made his reputation in Germany and Italy, Laudrup is well aware

of the value to clubs of playing regularly at the highest level, but it

has also made him realistic enough to admit that it is far too early for

anyone to be considering a European final.

It is his belief that Rangers are heading in the correct direction and

that playing in the Champions League would help all of the players and

the club financially, which is why the game against AEK is so important.

''It is a tie I would rather have had after five or six league matches,

but they have the same problem as us in that respect,'' he said.

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It has been suggested that AEK, who had five players in the Greek

World Cup squad, will lean on Laudrup, but he would be happy to accept

close company pointing out: ''Football is a physical sport and, if I was

worried about the possibility of being knocked down, I shouldn't be

playing.

''Besides, I hope I am given special attention because if players are

busy watching me it will mean someone else in the Rangers team might not

be marked so closely.

''It would be a struggle for me, but good for the team and if I am

knocked down I will get up and play on. I am impatient to show what I

can do.''

Rangers' immediate future regarding the European Cup could well depend

on how quickly Laudrup is able to exert an influence, but while he will

be trying to operate at his creative best, Rangers' last man, Andy

Goram, also will have to continue the form he has shown in pre-season

games. ''He has been terrific and I have to say he has responded well to

the action I took last season,'' said Smith, who had put his keeper on

the transfer list.

The manager will be depending on Goram to foil the Greeks should they

break through the defensive line. He has already warned his players that

AEK are a better side than Sparta Prague and Levski Sofia -- two teams

who destroyed Rangers' European ambitions in recent seasons. We are all

about to find out just how strong, or otherwise, they are.