THIS is no time for hangovers. There is no available slot for wound licking.

The passports are out, the boots are packed and Rangers need to rouse themselves from their Old Firm malaise and shake themselves down in preparation for tomorrow night and the chance to win a prize arguably bigger than the SPL title.

The good news is that Carlos Cuellar is back from suspension and David Weir could play despite picking up an injury against Celtic on Sunday.

The central defensive pair of Christian Dailly and Amdy Faye struggled during the last 39 minutes of the Old Firm game, so Cuellar's return should lend a steady hand to the backline.

Fiorentina celebrated as though they had already won the tie last Thursday at Ibrox and the Serie A side clearly believe they need only turn up to collect their ticket to Manchester.

However, if Rangers were stuffy and suffocating on home soil, they have already shown this season they are more than capable of punishing teams with swift, beguiling breaks away from home.

That swashbuckling Champions League win over Lyon aside, Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen and Sporting Lisbon have all come unstuck in the Uefa Cup.

The Artemio Franchi Stadium might see a rerun of a familiar movie tomorrow - and Cuellar certainly believes so.

"For some reason we appear to play better in the Uefa Cup away from home than we do at Ibrox," said the Spaniard.

"I don't know why that is. Maybe it is because we are not expected to do anything and so there is not so much pressure. But we know what we have to do and I believe we are certainly capable of doing it.

"My job is to make sure they don't score, but I believe we have the players here who can score. The system we have been playing this season has worked for us and it can work again tomorrow.

"I am sure Fiorentina will be confident, because 0-0 looks like a good score for them. But maybe that can work in our favour, the fact that they believe they are better off than us. We only need one goal and we can get it. We are confident within ourselves because we know what we are capable of.

"We know we will have to be clever and not give anything away, but we also know there will be chances in the game and we only need to take one of them."

Cuellar himself produced a flawless performance in the first leg and remained resolute whenever Fiorentina threatened.

He has been an inspirational signing and his pedigree at this level is noticeable. He will need not only to cope with the threat of Adrian Mutu, but will also be forced to influence those around him.

Kirk Broadfoot has started to wobble and his recent displays against the Italians and Celtic will not have done his confidence many favours.

This time last year the defender's main worry was keeping St Mirren in the SPL and his promotion hasn't just been rapid but also somewhat forced given the injury situation and the departure to Spurs of Alan Hutton.

Similarly, Steven Whittaker looked out of sorts on the left-hand side of midfield in the first leg but should be aided by the return of skipper Barry Ferguson and Kevin Thomson.

"It is good that we have Barry and Kevin back, because they are huge players for us and have done well in Europe," said Cuellar. "Barry is very good at talking his way through games and that can be a big help to players, especially some of the younger ones.

"At this level you need to have your big players and they are important ones for Rangers. Allan McGregor will still be out, but I have to say that Neil Alexander has done very well since he came into the team and he is confident, too.

"He has performed well for us and he will also want to make the most of this chance.

"I know exactly what it would mean to the club and to the supporters to get to the final and we are desperate to do it. We believe we can do it and we are going to Florence thinking only of a win."

Jean-Claude Darcheville appeared to have the measure of Tomas Ujfalusi with his searing pace last week, but the biggest problem Rangers had was in getting the ball to him.

Daniel Cousin produced one of his most impressive performances in the first half against Celtic and Walter Smith may feel his aerial threat is a better option.

Regardless of who is given the nod to start, Cuellar knows it will be a tense affair. The defender - who won his first senior medal in the recent CIS Cup Final victory over Dundee United - got to the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup with Osasuna last season, and knows the pain of failing at that stage.

"It was a terrible feeling," he said. "But there is a belief in this team that we can win everything and we will do all we can to achieve that. When I left Osasuna last summer I felt I was joining a club that had better potential to go further in Europe.

"I knew I was coming to a big club that is not only used to playing every year in Europe but also has the ability to go far in the Champions League and Uefa Cup and I still believe that."