CSKA Moscow v Rangers Moscow, 5.0Rangers manager Alex McLeish is expecting a difficult encounter in Moscow despite his side's excellent record in Russia.
Rangers have scored 11 goals in two visits to Russia - four against Dynamo Moscow three years ago in the UEFA Cup and seven against Alania Vladikavkaz at the same stage of the Champions League in 1996. Rangers have injury doubts over wingers Chris Burke and Peter Lovenkrands though striker Dado Prso is set to start. Midfielders Gavin Rae and new signing Dragan Mladenovic are both injured.
McLeish may start the more defensive-minded Paolo Vanoli in Lovenkrands' place on the left, with Shota Arveladze another option.
CSKA have become one of Europe's richest clubs following a sponsorship deal with Roman Abramovich's oil company and have spent heavily on new players, including Brazil's Vagner Love. They struggled to defeat Azerbaijan minnows Nefthi in the second qualifying round.
McLeish, happy with the decision to play the game at neighbours Lokomotive's ground, would be delighted with a draw if it meant his players could finish the job at Ibrox a fortnight later.
"It certainly won't be all-out attack like the Vladikavkaz match when they were playing the suicide game trying to get back a 3-1 deficit. There is no way we will play like that," he stated.
