Rangers had mixed fortunes in the days after their last European final loss 14 years but ultimately a marathon season ended with silverware.
Walter Smith ’s men lost out on the league title after defeat to Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester but summoned up the energy to beat Queen of the South at Hampden in the Scottish Cup final.
It was a five-goal thriller against the Doonhamers which eventually went the way of the Ibrox side who were out on their feet at the end of a jam-packed campaign.
Rangers now have to lift themselves for one final Hampden push following the heartache of a penalty shoot-out loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst might look to freshen things up after swatting Hearts aside in last week’s dress rehearsal with a shadow side.
That augurs well for this meeting with the Jambos but Robbie Neilson’s are sure to provide stiffer opposition with silverware on the line.
Here, Record Sport looks at five key issues for Van Bronckhorst as he looks to win his first trophy as Ibrox boss.
Allan McGregor
If we assume that the 40-year-old is to leave Ibrox at the end of this season then the biggest decision facing Giovanni van Bronckhorst is whether to give Allan McGregor his first ever start in a Scottish Cup final.
Jon McLaughlin has been the Scottish Cup goalkeeper and the Ibrox boss swatted away any notion that he wouldn’t stick with him for huge semi-final against Celtic.
McLaughlin has proved a more than able deputy and at points this season there have even been calls for him to be the No. 1.
However, McGregor’s situation could change things. If this is his last chance to appear in a Rangers shirt then does he deserve what could potentially be a fitting send-off?
The other argument is that sentiment shouldn’t come into McLaughlin will be at Ibrox next season and deserves to keep his Cup place.
Aaron Ramsey
The Welshman will be feeling so low and the chance to start in a Scottish Cup final could be exactly what he needs to get Wednesday’s penalty miss out of his system.
Ramsey might be champing at the bit to get out at Hampden and make amends for being the Europa League fall guy.
Alternatively, he might not yet be over his Seville heartache and playing the on-loan Juventus man could be detrimental.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst will have to make a call on how the 31-year-old is mentally as well as whether his recent form and fitness merits a start in the season’s showpiece.
Young guns
Alex Lowry was the star of the show as he was the pick of a batch of youngsters who shone in the win against against Hearts last week.
That was a dead rubber league clash and this is the real deal and the Ibrox club’s only shot at a trophy this season.
But might Lowry and Co come into Van Bronckhorst’s thinking if he looks to freshen things up for Hampden? They have certainly shown they have the ability.
Roofe time
Kemar Roofe played a huge part in getting Rangers to Hampden but injury in that extra time semi final win over Celtic then ruled him out until his substitute appearance in Seville.
The Ibrox side have been forced to play without a natural striker in his absence but with the Jamaica international now fit and available then it could be time to start him in the final game of the season.
The 29-year-old set up Scott Arfield for the crucial leveller against Celtic in the last four and he can offers something different in attack.
Davis farewell?
Similar to Allan McGregor, this could be a Rangers swansong for Steven Davis so will sentiment come into Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s thinking?
If the Northern Ireland veteran is to bring down the curtain on his second Ibrox spell then the prospect of parading around Hampden with silverware would be fitting.
The 37-year-old was non committal on his future in the aftermath of the Europa League Final loss but an exit is a real possibility and he will be desperate for a starting slot in the Scottish Cup final.
