ALLY MCCOIST reckons PSV Eindhoven come to Glasgow as "slight favourites" for the Champions League two-legged qualifier against Rangers.
The Ibrox hero this morning suggested the Eredivisie side will be viewed as the favourites to progress into the Champions League group stage with a win.
While the winners of the tie advance to the Champions League groups - the losing team will drop into the Europa League group stage instead.
But both sides are desperate to progress with a £40million prize on offer for reaching the next stage of Europe's elite competition.
McCoist reckons Rangers can set themselves up for a shot at progression with a positive result at Ibrox tonight - but insists it'll be more difficult than against Union Saint-Gilloise.
Speaking on talkSPORT, McCoist explained: "It will be difficult, I'll tell you that right now. It was a great result last week against the Belgians however, completely different entity tonight.
"PSV are a team of far better quality, no doubt about it. They've got good players; Gakpo obviously interesting Manchester United.
"A player that concerns or worries me a little bit sometimes comes back to bite you is a is called Joey Veerman who was at Herenveen and Rangers were interested in and tried to sign him.
"He went to PSV, and I fancy him. I think he's a good player; scored at the weekend, scored against Monaco.
"It's a far tougher game for us but listen if we got out and play at home the way that, particularly, we've done recently in Europe then we'll have a chance.
"I would be honest with you, I'd have PSV as slight favourites for the tie but anything can happen."
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has a full squad to choose from for the crucial clash with Ryan Kent and James Sands coming back into the squad.
But for McCoist the major swing factor in the match is the fact Rangers are playing at home first. The club have achieved incredible success on the European stage with numerous Ibrox second-legs in the run to the Europa League final last season.
And McCoist is concerned being at home first makes things more difficult as he suggested the scrapped away goals rule suits Rangers when they play away first.
Quizzed on whether he's bothered by the first-leg being at Ibrox by host Laura Woods, McCoist insisted: "Yes. Our home record is so good, it's fantastic in Europe, I would far rather the second leg at home.
"You look at some of the nights we've had on the march to the Europa final, brilliant nights.
"Dortmund, dismantled Leipzig, very, very comfortable against Red Star Belgrade, great comeback to knock out Braga.
"And I think the no away goals in a bizarre way would suit Rangers if they were away from home first. It wouldn't bother them if they didn't score as long as they kept it tight.
"Tonight I just think hopefully the atmosphere again - you can never understate the value and importance of the home crowd on these European nights at Ibrox because they've been magnificent and hopefully the boys can give them something to cheer about again tonight."
