ALEX McLEISH was the Rangers manager on not one but two of the most exciting final day dramas in the Ibrox club's trophy-laden 143 year history.

McLeish was in the dugout as his Gers side defeated Dunfermline 6-1 at home back in 2003 to pip Celtic to the SPL on goal difference.

And two years later he was in charge on "Helicopter Sunday" as his charges beat Hibs at Easter Road to once again pinch the Scottish title from under the noses of their Old Firm rivals.

Yet, Big Eck reckons the SPFL Premiership play-off final matches against Motherwell will be even more nerve-wracking than those outings for Rangers fans.

For more, much, much more, than a league is at stake for the Glasgow giants in this eagerly-anticipated double header with the Steelmen.

The chance to complete "The Journey" and return to the top flight of Scottish football after three rollercoaster years in the lower leagues is tantalisingly within touch.

Securing a place in the same division as the likes of Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hearts and, most importantly, Celtic, would ease a lot of financial issues at Rangers.

They could charge more for season tickets, would get more fans buying them, could attract larger attendances to their home games and increase revenue from hospitality and sponsorship.

And he doesn't envy the position his old Scotland team mate Stuart McCall is in entering the high-intensity meetings with a club they have both managed.

"These are the sort of games you only want to be involved in once your team has won and it is all over," laughed McLeish.

"I can see the similarities with the games Rangers played on the final day of the league season in 2003 and 2005. There will be enormous pressure on the players and management team.

"But there is a huge difference because there is the chance for Rangers to get back into the elite division while we were trying to prove we were the best team in the elite division."

Since leaving Rangers in 2006, McLeish has gone on to manager Scotland, Birmingham City - where he won the English League Cup - Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Genk in Belgium.

With that wealth of experience in management, the 56-year-old is well qualified, then, to offer an opinion on who will come out on top in the play-off final matches.

Like so many, he finds it a hard meet-up to call. Both sides have their strengths, both side have their weaknesses. Ultimately, though, he feels it will boil down to one quality.

"Whichever team has the most bottle will win and secure a place in the Premiership," he said. "Whichever team copes with the enormity of the occasion will come out on top."

If the Light Blues prevail, interim manager McCall, who has transformed the team since taking over from Kenny McDowall in March, will be in a strong position to earn a full-time contract.

McLeish, who spent six years in charge of his boyhood heroes after succeeding Dick Advocaat in 2001, has, like so many in Scottish football, been taken aback by the job McCall has done.

In particular, the former Aberdeen and Scotland centre half has been impressed with the changes he has made in the heart of the Gers defence.

McCall dropped club captain and first team regular Lee McCulloch after he had a poor afternoon against Falkirk in the penultimate Championship game against Falkirk last month.

He has put his faith in Rangers Player of the Year Darren McGregor and Marius Zaliukas and has been rewarded with some solid defensive displays.

McLeish said: "It was a big call to make. But Stuart will have been watching the team's training and the club's games and will have reached a conclusion change was needed.

"It was a big decision. He was basically altering a key part of his team, the spine of the side is built on your centre backs. But it has worked for him. They have been great.

"I think McGregor and Zaliukas have still got to prove they are good enough to play at the back for a club like Rangers and that has resulted in some excellent performances."

McLeish is currently looking for a new challenge after parting company with Genk after leading them into the Europa League play-offs.

He has, along with Ian Cathro, Billy Davies, Derek McInnes, Karl Robinson, Mark Warburton and Davie Weir, been linked with the manager's job at Rangers.

But the Scot has distanced himself from the position and tipped his old pal McCall to increase his chances of landing it greatly by leading Rangers into the Premiership.

McLeish said: "I had a great time in Belgium and had a great assistant in Alex Rae. We got a great send off from the fans.

"There is not a lot I can do right now. There aren't many jobs available. My thoughts at the moment are not to come back to Scotland. But I would never rule anything out.

"I know Rangers have been linked with other managers and there is talk about a Director of Football coming on board, but I think Stuart will be in pole position to be appointed on a full-time basis if he gets the club up.

"Football is a fickle business these days. If you win a game you are a hero, if you lose a game you are a nobody. But if Stuart gets them through the play-off final I think there will be a reaction to his success and calls for him to get the job. I don't think you could argue with them."

*BT Sport will show both of the SPFL Premiership play-off finals between Rangers and Motherwell exclusively live. Coverage of the first leg at Ibrox starts on BT Sport 1 at 7.30pm tonight with the second leg live on BT Sport 1 from 2.30pm on Sunday, May 31.