MY last European match for Rangers was against Osasuna more than 21 years ago. But I don't think the Spaniards will end things for the current Ibrox side when the teams collide again in the Uefa Cup over the next week or so.

My long career against continental opposition came to an end back in 1985, in what proved to be a disappointing night as Jock Wallace's time edged towards a conclusion. The first leg in mid-September was an absolute farce. If it had not been a European tie, the game would never have gone ahead.

I came on as a sub at Ibrox. But I would have been as well putting on my flippers when I came on to the pitch!

The match was played in probably the worst conditions I have ever seen. There had been a torrential downpour in the city and the pitch was badly waterlogged. Before the game, the ref was out and the ball would not travel across the surface. If it had been a domestic match, he would have called it off.

But, with the game being a European tie, it was maybe too problematic to rearrange things with the second leg to come in Spain a fortnight later.

Basically, it was a farce. We won the match 1-0 thanks to a goal from Craig Paterson and probably deserved it on the night. In the dressing room afterwards it was like a swimming pool. There was water running off the players and out into the corridors.

Big Jock feared some of the lads may get hypothermia - but we had a lead and that was important.

I think it was Osasuna's first season in Europe and, looking back, maybe the conditions at Ibrox stopped us from going over there with a bigger lead. And that was to cost us.

I started what was to be my last European game, and the plan from big Jock was to keep it tight at the back.

But that was blown apart after 12 minutes when Ripodas scored to make it 1-1, and they got a second from Martin just before half-time.

Now, Walter Smith's current crop have a chance for revenge. And I think they will go through over the two legs.

Osasuna will be a hard nut to crack. I've spoken to a few people who have watched them in the past few weeks and they are solid at the back.

But I am sure Rangers will be looking to get after them on Thursday night. And they have to be lifted by the fact that their best performances this season appear to have come in the Uefa Cup.

They have battered the likes of Molde, Maccabi Haifa, Partizan Belgrade and then Hapoel without losing a goal on their own turf.

So Rangers have nothing to fear. I don't think they will be over-confident, Smith will make sure of that.

Osasuna may be down at the bottom of La Liga, but Smith knows they are operating in one of the top three leagues in the world. There will not be much in it. But I fancy Rangers just to nick it and get into the last eight.