IT was always going to need two good performances from Rangers to overcome Kaunas in their mission to reach the group stage of the Champions League.

IT was always going to need two good performances from Rangers to overcome Kaunas in their mission to reach the group stage of the Champions League.

But the task facing Walter Smith and his players has been made ten times tougher as they now go into the first leg tomorrow without their two top players.

It's now going to take two massive performances to progress to the next round.

Velicka's got power to threaten

WALTER SMITH now has competition for places in attack and I think he'll go with three forwards against Kaunas tomorrow night.

If I was picking the Rangers team, I would play big Kyle Lafferty on the left and Kenny Miller and Andrius Velicka through the middle. That would leave Kris Boyd, Jean-Claude Darcheville, Daniel Cousin and Nacho Novo either on the bench or in the stand.

Rangers have got to be looking to get a couple of goals and, unlike last season, Smith has options in attack.

I know Boydy has been promised more of a look-in this term, but I'd select Miller because of his pace and Velicka because of his physical presence.

If it isn't working out and they haven't found the back of the net after an hour, then I'd certainly bring on Boyd and give him a chance to see what he can do.

If you allowed Kaunas to hand-pick two players in the Rangers squad they didn't want to feature against them, then you can be sure it would have been Barry Ferguson and Carlos Cuellar.

The pair are easily the most influential players at the Ibrox club and are genuine class acts.

It's a massive blow that they will both be sitting in the stand tomorrow night having been sidelined with injuries.

Of course, Rangers have known for a few weeks that Ferguson would be unavailable.

An ankle injury sustained in the second day of pre-season training will keep him out for the first three or four months of the season, and I actually believe that is a bigger blow than many people believe.

He is the man who really makes Rangers tick.

First and foremost, he is the captain and has an influence on the rest of the players, who have more confidence and belief when he is playing beside them. But it's also the way he controls games and gets forward to support the strikers that sets him apart.

I just don't see anyone there who can come in and do the same job.

And it's the same at the back - Cuellar is a crucial figure in the Rangers defence. Now it forces Smith to field a team far weaker than the one he would have ideally selected.

When you also take into consideration Lee McCulloch and Kevin Thomson are both doubts, although expected to play even although they won't be 100% fit, then it is obviously a concern with such an important tie taking place.

Reaching the Champions League would be worth at least £10m to Rangers. And after reaching the Uefa Cup Final last season, it's important the club give a good account of themselves in Europe again this term.

And, despite all the selection problems facing them, I fully expect them to defeat Kaunas over the two legs and progress to the final qualifying round, which will be drawn this Friday.

During last season's Uefa Cup run, the key to success for Rangers was to keep things tight at the back in the first-leg. So I'm sure the gameplan will be to make sure they keep a clean sheet but be positive in the final third as well.

By all accounts, Kaunas's best player is their Brazilian striker Rafael Ledesma. Rangers have watched them four times with Smith, Ally McCoist and Ian Durrant all taking in their games at various times over the last couple of weeks.

So it will be up to Davie Weir, and either Kirk Broadfoot or Christian Dailly, to make sure he doesn't carve out an away goal for the Lithuanian side - if he recovers from his own injury woes.

Rangers over the piece should have enough quality to win both legs.

It would have been better had this not been their first competitive game of the season, but I still fancy them to win by a couple of goals tomorrow night if everyone is on the ball and playing to their ability.

Snarler happy at stick

SCOTT BROWN thrives on being targeted for abuse by opposition supporters - but it means he is doing something right if that is the case.

It seems the Porto fans took exception to the Scotland man during their 1-0 defeat to Celtic, as Gordon Strachan's men rounded off their tour in Portugal. But Brown is the type who enjoys getting stick.

He doesn't care what the supporters think about him and if it means going in heavy in a challenge, even though it is just a friendly fixture, that is the way he plays.

We all know he had such a difficult time last season coping with his sister's tragic death after a long illness, and that isn't something he'll get over in a hurry. However, it is a fresh start for him this season.

He could be a crucial player for Celtic this season, linking up with Paul Hartley and Barry Robson in midfield.

I see them as the main men for Celtic again and if Brown continues to turn on the style, he could prove a massive hit.

Weir is the way

THERE was only one man Walter Smith could turn to as he searched for a replacement for Barry Ferguson as captain.

With his on-field leader ruled out, the Rangers manager had to name someone to take over the armband and it was always going to be Davie Weir.

I don't think he is as vocal as Fergie, you don't quite see him shouting at team-mates in the same way, but I don't think he'd be slow to let someone know when they are in the wrong. And he also has the respect of his colleagues.

Weir has a wealth of experience at club and international level so it was an easy decision: who else would he have considered for the role? Rangers will miss Fergie's presence. Weir is a capable replacement.