The return of the Europa League brings, arguably, the toughest challenge that any Rangers team has faced for some considerable time in the shape of Borussia Dortmund.
Despite a relatively sticky run of results, they are still just six points behind Bayern Munich in second place at the top of the Bundesliga and are packed with top class internationals even if Erling Haaland isn’t fit enough to lead the line.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has a decision to make, does he treat the game as a free hit and have a go or, does he sit in and play on the counter attack? That the German’s aren’t too clever at defending set-pieces could also play into his thinking.
The Scottish Premiership remains the priority and anyone who isn’t 100% should be left on the bench or back home, with this in mind, this is who I think will line up in the Signal Iduna Park:
The game against Annan Athletic didn’t really tell us much other than who might start against Dortmund, given that none of the players above even stepped onto the pitch, some weren’t even in the squad for the trip to Galabank.
I would have loved to have seen Fashion Sakala start on the right-hand side to provide greater pace on the counter attack and because he could be handy in the air at set plays, it would also keep Scott Arfield fresher for the trip to Tannadice but we have other options in his position for the weekend.
Aaron Ramsey will continue his return to full fitness but it should be from the bench, his experience could be handy in the last half hour regardless of what the score is and he would be another who will probably be in line for a start on Sunday.
The biggest issue is in defence with both Leon Balogun and Filip Helander unavailable, James Sands has played a lot of football at centre-half but I can’t see the gaffer going away from a defence he has used before, however, the display at Parkhead might’ve been enough to persuade him otherwise.
Ryan Jack falls into the same category as Ramsey, the midfield is strong enough without having to risk him, especially with more important games on the horizon, had it been a key game in the group stages then he might have been risked but I just can’t see it on this occasion.
The aim has to be a good performance and still being in the tie when we kick-off at Ibrox next week, sometimes all you can do is your best, if it isn’t good enough, then so be it, we have to be realistic and accept that progress would be one of our best results in Europe for many a year – but it’s not impossible.