LEE McCULLOCH admits he is bracing himself for the personal agony of being left out of the Rangers team that starts tomorrow night's Uefa Cup Final against Zenit.

But even if he does have to settle for a slot on the bench, the midfielder says there will be no axe to grind with boss Walter Smith.

The Gers gaffer has to pick the side he feels is best suited to beating the Russians, but there are going to be several disappointed players. And, having not played for a month with a foot injury, McCulloch faces a sweat to see if he'll get the nod.

"First of all, it's just great to be in with a chance of playing as I was told my season would be over after the tackle in the Celtic game,"

McCulloch said.

"But when the swelling went down I was given hope that I could get back and, thankfully, I have trained for almost the past week and I'm available.

"Everybody has probably thought about being left out. We all want to play, myself included, but if the boss doesn't pick me I'll just have to get on with it like everyone else.

"The manager has done so much for every player at the club that I don't think they would bear any grudges if dropped. You would need to take it on the chin, although you are obviously hoping you don't have the disappointment."

If he doesn't get a starting slot, McCulloch will be on the bench. And he admits that being involved in a European final will only hit him when he walks out to warm-up before the game.

"It still hasn't sunk in yet," he said. "I think for most of us it will only sink in when we run out. I have scored at the City of Manchester Stadium for Wigan and won there, so hopefully that could be an omen.

"We have done ever so well to get to the final and it's going to be a great occasion for the whole club.

"The demand for tickets has been incredible and I've had people I haven't heard from for years asking!"

Having been one of the scorers on the night Rangers beat Lyon in the Champions League back in October, McCulloch just smiles when posed the question about the Ibrox side's so called anti-football' approach.

"We just look after ourselves. We know we can go and win games in Europe - winning in Lyon and Lisbon is not bad for a team that can't play," he smiled.

"This is a final and we are desperate to bring the trophy back to Ibrox. It's going to be tough, they are a top side and are Russian champions - but we'll give it everything."