Brian Laudrup has sounded out three Rangers players who will have a major say in whether they reach the Champions League group stages or not.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men welcome Dutch giants PSV to Ibrox as the duo go head to head in the first of two meetings in their play-off tie. The winner will advance to the group stages and land the big financial windfall that comes with competing at Europe's top table.
The Light Blues - who are desperate to join Ange Posteocoglou and Celtic in the tournament proper - overcame Union SG to reach this stage while their opponents knocked out Monaco. It's set to be another blockbuster occasion under the lights at Ibrox tonight and Gers hero Laudrup has picked out three individuals who he believes must be at the top of their game for his former club to stand a chance of qualifying.
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Writing in his Daily Mail column, he said: "Against PSV Eindhoven, I will be looking to big-game players such as [John] Lundstram. When Lundstram plays in European football, he really comes alive. That's why he is trusted so much on the big occasion by van Bronckhorst
"I would look also at Ryan Kent. We all know that when Kent is fit, he has something that only he at Ibrox can deliver and that's the ability to take players on, create chances and score goals.
"With his tricks and his pace, Kent could be vital. But another player who could have a big say against PSV is young Malik Tillman. The 20-year-old scored what proved the decisive goal against Union Saint-Gilloise in the 3-0 win at Ibrox last week as Rangers made history by overcoming a 2-0 deficit to go through 3-2 on aggregate.
"I watched Tillman after the Union game and he looked in awe of Ibrox. He was realising just how big a club Rangers is. Now his confidence is up. He knows he is capable of scoring big goals. After that header against Union, he scored another against St Johnstone in Saturday's 4-0 win at Ibrox.
"Tillman is a strong boy who is good on the ball. He's got excellent technique and he's very, very good in the air, I have to say. He's got a bit of everything, really. He can take players on and create but in a different way to Kent. It's very encouraging to see him doing so well in the early days of his Rangers career."
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