The sheer scale of the historic Olympic Stadium in Berlin should be sufficient to regenerate the desire that deserted Chelsea last weekend. If it does not, then the questioning over the Watford defeat would seem like a minor interrogation.
Gianluca Vialli is confident that any queries on attitude will be answered in the affirmative tonight. It is perhaps less a matter of playing on European football's highest stage; more one of simple professional pride.
Confidence in Chelsea's ability to deliver tonight will be raised if Vialli fields the side that played so impressively against Milan last week. Frank Leboeuf and Dennis Wise are fit to return, but there are lingering queries over Vialli's final choice. Gustavo Poyet, such an influential midfielder, will be a late arrival after receiving specialist treatment in Spain for his groin trouble. And the manager is considering returning the persevering Tore Andre Flo to the substitutes' bench in favour of Chris Sutton, despite another disappointing display by the £10 million striker on Saturday.
Statistically, there is nothing between these rivals: both have scored only once this season. Hertha Berlin believe Flo will play tonight, but Vialli continues publicly to back his summer signing.
Vialli will unquestionably be placing faith in the experience and proven ability at this level of France's World Cup-winning captain Didier Deschamps. Savoir-faire will be required in large measures here. It is Hertha's European "home-coming" after 20 years outside continental competition; and even if they are little known outside Germany, no team finishing third in the Bundesliga can be taken lightly. Vialli offered his respects yesterday: "Physically, technically and tactically they're a very good team."
Written off as the rank outsiders of Group H, Hertha can still damage, as they did in drawing 2-2 at Galatasaray last week.
Rangers goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier is in danger of missing the vital Champions League game against Bayern Munich at Ibrox tonight. The volatile Frenchman, who threw a tantrum following the 2-0 defeat by Valencia last week, is suffering from a back injury.
He didn't train yesterday and it seems probable that third-choice Antti Niemi will replace him against last year's beaten finalists as Stefan Klos is still sidelined with a knee injury.
Bayern also have goalkeeping problems which have forced coach Ottmar Hitzfeld to put fourth-choice Stefan Wessels into the match. It turns out that Wessels is a member of Germany's Under-20 World Cup squad. A club which has been tagged FC Hollywood leaves little to chance.
Advocaat could again be denied the services of striker Rod Wallace. He is back in training but reported some stiffness in his hamstring yesterday. Both he and Charbonnier are rated doubtful and Advocaat will make a late decision on their fitness.
Another defeat tonight against the powerful German side and Rangers's chances of progressing from Group F will be all but over.
