SPL preview

Gers aim to make their games in hand pay

Last updated: 16th May 2008

walter smith rangers uefa cup

Smith: Must pick up players

Rangers look to bounce back from their European heartache as Walter Smith's side travel to Motherwell on Saturday.

Gers' suffered a 2-0 loss in the final of the Uefa Cup against Zenit St Petersburg at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday, to end their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple.

However, Smith's men can still secure an incredible treble - having already claimed the Scottish League Cup - so long as they utilise their games in hand over leaders Celtic and down Queen of South in the Scottish Cup final on 24th May.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Inverness Caledonian Thistle host St Mirren, while John Hughes' Falkirk travel to Kilmarnock.

Inverness CT v St Mirren

Inverness boss Craig Brewster has no fresh injury worries and insists it is highly unlikely he will make a farewell appearance in the final game of his last season as a player.

Central defenders Phil McGuire and Grant Munro (both groin) and midfielder Markus Paatelainen (knee) remain sidelined.

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson is not expected to make major changes to the team which drew against Gretna last week.

The visitors - unbeaten in three games - will again be without David van Zanten for their penultimate SPL clash of the term at Inverness.

Van Zanten, who will join Hibernian this summer, remains out of action with a knee injury. Fellow defender Ian Maxwell moved to Partick in midweek.

Kilmarnock v Falkirk

Kilmarnock could restore Danny Invincibile to their attack for their final SPL game of the season against Falkirk.

The Australian was absent for last week's game at Hearts but returns to the squad for the team's final game of the season.

Craig Bryson, Alan Morgan, Frazer Wright and Willie Gibson remain on the injured list.

Falkirk boss Hughes will have to make do with his current squad against Kilmarnock despite the triple capture of Jackie McNamara, Neil McCann and Lee Bullen this week.

On-loan goalkeeper Shane Supple has returned to Ipswich for a finger operation and Portman Road team-mate Billy Clarke has also had his loan stint cut short due to international involvement with the Republic of Ireland Under 21s.

The Bairns have secured seventh spot and are seeking a victory to better last term's points total, but Hughes could draft in his younger fringe players for the last outing of the campaign.

Motherwell v Rangers

Sasa Papac is rated doubtful for Rangers' fixture against Motherwell as Smith's men look to close the gap between them and leaders Celtic to a single point.

The left-back is suffering from a thigh strain following the Uefa Cup final in midweek and could miss the trip to Fir Park.

Daniel Cousin comes back into contention after missing the defeat to Zenit St Petersburg through suspension, with manager Walter Smith planning to freshen up his team.

Motherwell midfielder Bob Malcolm is suspended for the visit of his former club.

Malcolm was hit with a one-match ban after going through the disciplinary threshold for cumulative yellow cards.

Skipper Paul Quinn (broken jaw) is the only other absentee for Mark McGhee.