Brian Laudrup's projected move to Chelsea has caused consternation at Ibrox, where Rangers have to decide if the Danish winger's attention can be focused on forthcoming crucial matches. Laudrup was left out of Rangers' Scottish Cup tie at Motherwell by manager Walter Smith, who believed that the player was not in "the right frame of mind" after his midweek trip to Stamford Bridge.

It seems almost certain now that Laudrup will join the London club, whose chief executive, Colin Hutchinson said that agreement on terms with the player had been "completed weeks ago".

Rangers have the cup replay against Motherwell at Ibrox tomorrow, having been fortunate to draw the first game 2-2, and that is followed by a series of Premier Division games that could have a profound effect on their chances of winning a tenth successive championship.

It is now understood that Laudrup could even sign a precontract agreement with Chelsea in the next few days, leading to the possibility of his being allowed to leave Ibrox even before the end of the season.

Laudrup's form has been indifferent throughout the campaign and he seems clearly to have been affected by the decision he has had to make about his future. He is also wanted by Ajax and Monaco, both of whom recently have refused to accept that they have lost him to Chelsea.

Smith said he expected Laudrup to be able to play in tomorrow's replay, but many Rangers fans have already declared through radio phone-ins and letters columns that he would be as well to leave as soon as possible.

Rangers needed Gordon Durie's late equaliser at Fir Park, Motherwell having led twice through Tommy Coyne and a Richard Gough own goal. Marco Negri scored Rangers' first equaliser. However, victory tomorrow would give the Ibrox side virtually a bye into the semi-finals, as their quarter-final opponents would be First Division Dundee or Third Division Ross County. Celtic have to travel to Dunfermline tonight for their fourth-round tie and head coach Wim Jansen is likely to retain Harald Brattbakk in attack, despite the Norwegian's lack of goals since his arrival from Rosenborg in December.

The cup holders, Kilmarnock, were eliminated by their county neighbours, Ayr United, who have been `rewarded' with an away match against Hearts in the last eight.

Celtic head coach Wim Jansen insists the experience of fellow Premier Division sides in this weekend's Scottish Cup will ensure his players take nothing for granted in tomorrow's fourth round clash at Dunfermline.

The Dutchman has seen holders Kilmarnock humbled by local rivals Ayr and Dundee United have to rely on a late equaliser to snatch a replay against Second Division strugglers Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

While Dunfermline are hardly in the same giant-killing category, Jansen knows that Celtic remain hot favourites and anything other than a victory will be deemed a failure.

Craig Burley's single strike was enough to beat Dunfermline in this year's Coca-Cola Cup semi-final but the memory of their 2-1 win in the league at Parkhead back in August is still a vivid one.

"You only have to see what happened yesterday in some of the games to tell you that you never under-estimate any opponents," said Jansen.

"Dunfermline have made every game difficult for us up until now especially in our previous cup game and we know it will be another hard one tomorrow.

"It is almost a final every time we play now but we know that and we have prepared ourselves well."

Celtic's hopes of coming away victorious from East End Park at the first attempt may well depend on whether Norwegian striker Harald Brattbakk can finally find his touch in front of goal.

He has scored just once since his £2 million move from Rosenborg - in the last round against Morton - but Jansen insists he is confident the goals will come for the man deemed to be the `final piece' in the Parkhead jigsaw.

"He is getting in the right positions to score and, as a coach, all I can do is try to help them get in those positions," he added.

"The last part, the scoring part, that comes with confidence. And if you are scoring goals, you get confidence from that."

"But he is still doing a lot for the team, and I think it is very important to have him and Henrik Larsson playing up front together."