KIRK BROADFOOT says he is ready to fill Rangers central defensive breach against Kaunas at Ibrox tomorrow night.

Carlos Cuellar is crocked with a niggling calf injury that could see him miss both legs of the crunch second round Champions League qualifier with the Lithuanians.

And SportTimes understands that Gers boss Walter Smith is looking at Broadfoot to occupy the key role of playing alongside Davie Weir at centre-back. Despite spending most of his first season at Ibrox as a stand-in right-back, Broadfoot's favoured position is central defence.

He played there alongside Weir against Schalke in Gers most testing pre-season outing, and Smith will now have to choose between the former St Mirren man or Christian Dailly. But Broadfoot vowed: "I will not let the team down if I play centre back. These games do not faze me, I am not the type to just shy away.

"I'm not playing down the importance of it, I just believe in myself and I will give my best no matter what.

"Carlos is a huge player - you don't become a Player of the Year for nothing - and he will be a huge loss if he doesn't make it. But I suppose it opens the door for me or Christian Dailly to come in.

"Of course everyone is aware of the importance of the game and what it means to the club to be involved in the Champions League. The qualifiers are some of the most high-pressure games of the season because they come so early, but we will be ready for it. We don't fear them, we look forward to them."

Smith today confirmed Cuellar faces a race against time to be fit for the return leg in Kaunas a week tonight and the SPL kick-off at Falkirk on August 9. He said: "I think there is perhaps a little bit of fatigue there, and a hangover from the number of games last season.

"We can put the injury down to that. I would hope Carlos may yet be fit for the second leg in Kaunas, but we need to give him an opportunity to let the problem clear up.

"We thought he was perfectly okay as he had a week of training under his belt and that was the strange thing about Saturday's injury at Raith."

But the Gers boss has been handed a boost with both Kevin Thomson and Lee McCulloch set to be fit for tomorrow. McCulloch had been struggling with a throat infection, whilst Thomson had a minor knee knock, but Smith expects them to be available for selection.

Tickets are still on sale for the Kaunas game priced at £20 for adults and £8 concessions. The match will not be live on TV. Available on 0871 702 1972, line at www.rangers.co.uk and from the Rangers Ticket Centre.