2011 MARIBOR

across the water to face Northern Irish outfits Coleraine or Ballymena United or to the Republic of Ireland to meet Shamrock Rovers or Cork City. Welsh trio Bala Town, Connah’s Quay and Bangor City would also be favourable draws. No matter who comes out of the hat, the first round should be negotiated with relative ease, the matches offering Rangers crucial opportunities to buildup their match sharpness as well as get a couple of wins on the board. After that, the out- look is less certain,c though. Last seas season, only two teams from the 96 that entered at the firstfi round – Maccabi Tel-Aviv an and Gabala – made it through the t three qualifying ties and play-offplay-o to reach the group stages.

THE year before,b the Azerbaijanis w were joined by Rosenborg as the only survivors from the 102 sides that set out dream dreaming of joining some of the big biggest names on the continent.

Maccabi ar are one of the teams that potentiallypo lie in wait for the GersGe in round two but far sterner tests may need to tb be passed d if the Euro run is to extend to a fifth and sixth game.

Utrecht and Galatasaray are the stand-out sides but Caixinha will want to avoid the likes of Astra Guirgiu from Romania or Czech side Hadjuk Split.

Once the ceremony is complete in Switzerland, Rangers can get back to the hard work and continue their preparations for the new campaign.

On Friday, the Premiership schedule will be released and it is those fixtures that are the most important one for Caixinha to consider.

The return to the Europa League is a welcome one for Rangers.

It is a change of scenery and a fresh challenge as well as another box ticked.

It will be the trips to everywhere from Kilmarnock to Dingwall that will define Caixinha and the campaign, though.