WALTER SMITH has adopted a cautious approach for most of this European campaign - both in his own expectations and in his team selections - for fear of seeing what is an inexperienced Rangers side being ripped open.

And, just as fans of his club begin to flirt with the idea that their team could indeed make a serious attempt at going all the way in the Uefa Cup, caution is again the watchword for the Ibrox boss here in Germany tonight.

Several attempts were made to nudge Smith into dreaming, should Rangers reach the last eight by protecting the 2-0 first leg lead in the Weserstadion. Burden is all on home side says Papac SASA PAPAC believes the pressure will all be on Werder Bremen tonight.

The Bosnian full-back played in the first leg at Ibrox a week ago, but he was then left out at the weekend when Rangers beat Hibs 1-0 in the Scottish Cup.

Smith seems to prefer the the more attack-minded Steven Whittaker for a lot of the domestic matches, while he reverts to Papac for Europe.

But the former Austria Vienna man believes he has handled his left-back duties capably, and he looks like again getting the Euro nod here in Bremen tonight.

Walter Smith's side hold a 2-0 advantage from Ibrox, but the German side still are confident of staging a comeback.

Bremen were some pundits' tip for the trophy and that, says Papac, takes all the heat off Rangers.

He said: "Bremen were the favourites to go through when the draw was made, and they are in front of their own fans. The pressure is on them to try and overturn the score and stay in the tournament.

"I think many people said Bremen could win the Uefa Cup this season after getting to the semi-finals last year, so it would be a shock for them to lose.

"We just have to play our own game and not think about what they are going to do. We have proved many times in Europe this term we can get results.

"This will be our 14th European match of the season so we should be able to understand what they will look to do and try to cope with that."

As for his own left-back involvement, Papac added: "It's not a problem for me, I have played left-back for a long time in my career and I just want to do as well as I can when the manager picks me.

"It's such a busy time right now that the manager will make changes. But everyone wants to play tonight."

But every question, no matter how it was dressed up, was met with a wry smile.

Smith has been round the block often enough to know that Rangers have plenty on their hands tonight without him gazing too far into their future.

He concedes that, should Bremen be hurdled, his own expectations would indeed go up one notch. But for the Rangers manager, the here and now is very much at the forefront of his mind.

"We face a very tough task getting through this game tonight. In fact, for me we face one of the hardest tasks we've had all season against Bremen," said the pragmatic Smith.

He went on: "I would say we need to get through this before we can start thinking about anything else. Even then, if you get to the last eight it's still a fair bit down the road before you can think about a Uefa Cup Final.

"That said, if we were to overcome Bremen then I would think we would have knocked out one of the tournament favourites.

"There was a big disappointment when we dropped out of the Champions League. I had hoped we would make the last 16 after the start we made to the group.

"But when you get into the Uefa Cup, and get through a round, as we did against Panathinaikos, then you obviously want to do as well as you can.

"We might even get to a situation that no-one expected. I hope we can do it - regardless of whether it gives us a problem with our domestic fixtures or not.

"But forget this suggestion that we are in a commanding position in the tie. We have an advantage, I admit, with a 2-0 lead and a clean sheet at home. But I believe the tie is still evenly balanced, and we will really need to perform this evening."

Bremen have made something of a habit of comebacks from perilous situations. The feelings in this city, and from their camp, is that they can overhaul the Rangers lead.

Clearly, an early onslaught will be launched to try and put Smith's side under pressure and bring goals. That, however, is a situation Rangers have faced many times this season, and their record of eight clean sheets in 13 European ties is admirable.

Smith hopes they can again hold strong at the back. But he also knows that striking a killer blow at the other end could swing things very much their way.

The Gers boss added: "They are a very attacked-minded side. They don't sit back and wait for the opposition to make things happen.

"So we are going to have to handle their style of play, which is very much based on getting forward.

"I still feel, to make the first leg really count, we have to score. That would help us in the overall complexion of the tie.

"Obviously, there will be stages in the match during which we will need to defend in numbers. I don't think anyone would go to Bremen not expecting to have to defend for periods of the game.

"But we have to show that we can threaten as well, and Bremen will be aware of the danger of losing a goal - just as it was for Inter Milan against Liverpool the other night.

"Inter had lost the first leg 2-0 at Anfield and were as careful not to lose a goal as they were trying to score one. They knew that one more goal for Liverpool would effectively kill the tie stone dead.

"It's a similar scenario over here. Hopefully we can do well defensively, but we also must try to threaten their goal and not allow them to have too comfortable an evening. We don't want to let them be the only team who is attacking."

Smith's final question of an entertaining press conference came from a local reporter who regaled the manager with details of famous Bremen comebacks, which has led to them being known as the miracle team' of the Bundesliga.

Smith smiled: "Do I believe in miracles? Well, I was here in Bremen in 1982 with Dundee United after we had won 2-1 at Tannadice in the first leg.

"We scored in the first minute. Bremen then hit the bar three times, struck the post six times, and I recall about eight efforts being cleared off the line.

"I think we got out of our half twice in the game, but went through with a 1-1 draw. So, for me, that was as close to a miracle as I've seen."

Rangers certainly don't need a miracle tonight. But as Smith knows, it would be folly to believe they are already in the quarter-final draw. Gers live on Beeb

TONIGHT'S game is being screened live on BBC1, with a 7.30pm kick-off at the Weserstadion.