Velička warns Rangers of Kaunas threat

'Special match'
The 29-year-old Lithuanian scored more than 100 goals for Kaunas, his first professional club, before a 2006 loan to Scotland's Heart of Midlothian FC. In February he switched to Viking FK but in June agreed a €1.3m move to Ibrox which Velička believes will act as an inspiration for his former team-mates. "They will want to show they are good players and it's a chance for them to show that they deserve a good contract somewhere else," said Velička. "I don't know all the players because it is two years since I played there but I know they will play with strong hearts. Of course, it will be a special match because it's against my old club and I have many good memories. I just hope I get the chance to be on the pitch to enjoy it."

Doubts
Rangers manager Walter Smith is without captain Barry Ferguson, the midfielder having been ruled out until the end of October following ankle surgery, while Spain defender Carlos Cuéllar also misses the match with a calf strain. Kirk Broadfoot or Christian Dailly are likely to deputise at centre-back while Smith is also confident that Lee McCulloch and Kevin Thomson will recover from respective throat and knee ailments to take their places in midfield for last season's UEFA Cup finalists, who progressed to that competition from the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Previous encounter
Velička was on the losing side when Kaunas last met Rangers in a UEFA Champions League qualifier eight years ago. On that occasion the Lithuanian club, who finished the game with nine men, looked set to leave Ibrox with a narrow 2-1 defeat until Billy Dodds popped up with a late double to give Dick Advocaat's men a healthy advantage for the return leg which ended goalless.

Miller return
In a further coincidence Kenny Miller, who made his Rangers debut that evening, could be set to take his second Ibrox bow following the former Celtic FC striker's €2.6m transfer from Derby County FC. The arrival of Miller and Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty from Burnley FC means seven strikers are vying for starting places at Ibrox, but irrespective of whether he is given the nod on Wednesday Velička is confident Rangers will take a healthy lead back to his homeland next week.

Danger
"I believe Kaunas should worry about Rangers," added Velička, who identified Brazilian playmaker Rafael Ledesma as the dangerman of José Couceiro's side. "Ledesma is a good player. He is useful at set-pieces but he is a typical Brazilian in that he does not offer a physical presence. We should be too strong for them. Rangers are a bigger and better club than Kaunas in all respects."