Rod Wallace faces a torrid time tonight when Rangers tackle PAOK Salonika in the UEFA Cup. The former Leeds striker has been singled out as the danger man by the Greeks.

Rangers go into their second preliminary round game, holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg.

PAOK, who had a representative at Kilmarnock on Saturday when Wallace scored his fourth goal in five games, believe he must be watched at all costs.

Coach Oleg Blochin is edgy, especially as his team lost 1-0 to Athens rivals Ionikos at the weekend.

"The player who worries me most is Wallace. He is very quick and dangerous and our defence is not in the best of health," said Blochin. "If we give them any room at all he will punish us."

Wallace arrived on a free transfer from Elland Road in the summer and is already proving to be a shrewd buy.

"I have been very pleased with Rod's performances so far," said coach Dick Advocaat. "He is an ideal player for a game like this because he has so much experience in the English Premiership."

Wallace and his Rangers teammates face a searching examination of both their physical and mental strength in the Greek port.

Arsenal, with all their experienced players, were unsettled when they played there in the UEFA cup last season and went down 1-0 which effectively ended their interest in the competition.

Central defender Tony Adams described the atmosphere as "amazing, very hostile but a challenge".

Rangers have advised supporters not to travel but a hundred fans are still expected to cheer them on.

PAOK have a fearsome reputation at their ground, known as The Tomb, and were banned from European competition for two years in 1994 when their fans rioted against Paris St Germain.

Advocaat believes his players can handle the tension with a crowd of around 20,000 packed in.

"They are all experienced players" he said. "Maybe if we frustrate PAOK, and maybe score, the crowd will come over to our side."

"There will be a lot of noise, of that I am sure but I don't see it as a big problem."

PAOK coach Blochin has publicly voiced his concern about his defence. "I wanted to go into the game with Rangers on the back of a positive result against Ionikos," he said. "Even a draw would have satisfied me but we committed suicide and gave away a crazy goal."

Australian central defender Craig Moore is expected to retain his place in the Rangers starting line-up as Scotland captain Colin Hendry is ineligible.

Italy's top anti-drugs investigator is set to fly to London for talks with Chelsea stars Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Di Matteo, Gianfranco Zola and Pierluigi Casiraghi as part of a probe into alleged drug abuse in Serie A.

Ugo Longo, who heads an enquiry by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), had been expecting the Stamford Bridge Italians in Rome today. But CONI officials have had no reply to their faxed invitation.