The European draws today have thrown up a potential disaster for Rangers ahead of the first Old Firm clash of the season on 29th August.
In the event that Steven Gerrard’s men do not overcome Malmo in the Champions League 3rd qualifying round, they drop into the Europa League playoff round to face either Kairat Almaty or Alashkert.
That would mean a long and difficult journey to Kazakhstan or Armenia, respectively, immediately before the game against Celtic later this month.
Arriving back to Glasgow with only just 48 hours of prep time prior to the derby game is a situation that everyone at the club will want to avoid, meaning even more motivation for the upcoming tie against Malmo in the showpiece European tournament.
First of all and rightly so, the focus is on the Swedish champions and the away leg tomorrow evening – that was the message at the press conference today when Gerrard made clear he respects Malmo but it is all about what his side do.
Rangers will believe that they can get a positive result to bring back to Ibrox for the return leg next Tuesday.
Success against the Swedes will result in a meeting in the Playoff round against Olympiacos or Ludogorets, having thakfully avoided the circus and controversy of a potential return meeting with Slavia Prague.
One step at a time and the job begins tomorrow as Rangers plot their way back to the Champions League group stages for the first time since the 2010/11 season.