SASA PAPAC admits every last ounce of energy will be required from every Rangers player as they head into an 18-day spell that could turn them into legends.

But the Bosnian would take this pain and strain every day of the week ahead of simply seeing out a season with nothing to play for.

Papac has been in that movie over the past two years at Ibrox - and didn't enjoy it one little bit.

Tonight, Rangers will play Motherwell in their 62nd match of the season, just two shy of the club record of 64 games set by Walter Smith's 1992/93 team that won a domestic Treble and came so close to making a European Cup Final.

Comparisons have been drawn all along the journey with that squad and today's Rangers team, although undoubtedly the team of 15 years ago had far more in terms of quality.

The resilience has certainly been mirrored, but Papac and the class of 2008 must now prove they can follow their predecessors and turn this current situation into tangible success.

So far, the CIS Insurance Cup is the only piece of silverware banked. The SPL is a live race again as Rangers stumble for the first time this season, while the Uefa Cup and Scottish Cup Finals have still to come.

"It is not an easy situation to be playing games every three days as we have to," said Papac. "But that does mean we are still in with a chance of winning trophies and that is all we can really ask for.

"I have certainly never experienced anything like this situation in my career. We have hardly had any time to recover and we only really do small, light training sessions between the games.

"It's just important to try and rest, eat well and get the energy back. We are used to it because it has been the same way now for a couple of months, but it is very tough on your body.

"Mentally as well we have to be ready as you come off European games and go into SPL matches when you know every team wants to beat you.

"But I would rather be in this position than the situation of the past two years when we had nothing to play for. For me, that was tougher."

Papac admits he is looking forward to returning to Ibrox tonight for the must-win game against Motherwell, having had just one of their last nine matches at home, and the final home game of the season against Dundee United this Saturday lunchtime.

And he knows that there can be no more slip-ups after a poor run of SPL form that has seen the title challengers take just two points from their last four matches, the latest damaging blow a goal-less draw with Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday.

"The SPL title is the prize you want to win at the start of the season," said Papac. "We knew it was always going to be tough this season for us as Celtic are a strong side.

"We were disappointed not to get anything from the two games at Celtic. I didn't think we deserved to lose both games, and we didn't get much luck.

"But we are back home at Ibrox and we have been strong there this season. We need to win our games, we know the situation."

Only after league matters are out of the way can Rangers allow their minds to drift to Manchester next week, and the Uefa Cup Final showdown with Zenit St Petersburg.

Papac has been one of the unsung heroes of this European journey that has secured the club's first Final in 36 years against the Russians.

And he played his part by slotting home in the penalty shoot-out in Florence, a much- talked-about kick because of his cool approach and finish.

"I may have looked cool," he said. "But inside my heart was racing. I stared at the keeper for as long as I could and waited until he indicated which way he would go.

"That has been my approach any time I have taken a penalty, which hasn't been that often.

"I was just delighted to see it go in and we have the final now, which is great. But we can't look at that until after the league games, they are just so crucial."

---

Kanchelskis' spying game

FORMER Rangers star Andrei Kanchelskis has turned spy-in-the-camp to boost Zenit St Petersburg's chances of winning the Uefa Cup. The winger spent four years at Ibrox after being brought to the club by Zenit's current boss Dick Advocaat in a £5.5m deal from Fiorentina.

And he has given his old gaffer a blueprint of the current Ibrox squad. He said: "No matter what the score is, Rangers will fight for every ball and run, run, run.

"Rangers also have a great defence. Despite having big opponents like Fiorentina and Werder Bremen, they have conceded only two goals in the Uefa Cup."

Kanchelskis reckoned Rangers' weak link was the lack of a cutting- edge striker. He added: "These days there is no striker in the squad who could be called a star."

But Hearts former director of football and ex-Soviet Union striker, Anatoliy Byshovets, has warned Zenit to beware Nacho Novo.

He pinpointed the diminutive Spanish hit man as Walter Smith's secret weapon. He said: "Novo has excellent technical skills and wonderful speed. He should not be underestimated."