Rangers manager Walter Smith believes team selection rather than formation will be the key to adapting to the unusual situation of playing a European second leg at Ibrox.
When Rangers host PSV Eindhoven on Thursday night in the last 16 of the Europa League, it will be the first time since a 4-0 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv four years ago that they have played the return leg at home. Rangers have generally excelled in the reverse situation, winning five out of six knockout ties in three seasons.
After a goalless first leg in Holland last week, Smith knows his team need to attack more in this encounter than they have in previous Ibrox ties, but he looks set to continue with the 5-4-1 formation he has preferred in Europe this season to minimise the risk of losing an away goal. He said: "We'll have to change a little bit from the way we have played, especially in the away games."
He added: "Although we have kept a very similar formation, we have approached the home games in a slightly different fashion, both in the Champions League and against Sporting Lisbon.
"We had more attacking personnel within the same set-up so we just have to find the right balance, that`s the important part for us."
Rangers struggled to get forward in Holland but Smith has Kyle Lafferty and Steven Naismith available after illness and injury, although the latter is not certain to start, and he feels his midfield players` ability to break forward will be crucial.
"It`s that switch that`s the main thing. The last game we had there we had Steven Naismith, Kyle Lafferty and Nikola Jelavic, nearly all the forward-type players, unavailable.
"We have got one or two of them back available so we are able to field more attacking players even though the formation might be the same."
Having benefited from the away goals rule on several occasions in recent years, Smith feels his players will know the potential pitfalls.
"We have taken advantage of it in European games ourselves," he said. "It`s something you have to handle. We have used it to our advantage, the experience we have of that can be gained the other way. But we know at some stage in the game we have to attack and try to win the game."
Source: PA
