Lee McCulloch knows that Rangers face a tough test against Malmo in their Champions League qualifier.

The Ibrox club are only one game into their SPL campaign while Malmo are halfway through their domestic season.

And although the Swedish champions are sitting in an unimpressive mid-table position, Rangers too do not have their problems to seek, after an unconvincing pre-season and 1-1 draw at home to Hearts in the SPL opening game.

"The qualifiers can be unforgiving and we know Malmo are a good team with some good players in their side," Lee McCulloch told the official Rangers website.

"We can't underestimate them at all. They've played a lot more games than us this season already so we know it is going to be a hard game."

McCulloch played in both games in 2008 when Rangers crashed out to FBK Kaunas. Rangers manager Ally McCoist hopes the shock Champions League exit three years ago will be enough to motivate his players to manage and avoid disappointment against Malmo.

The loss against the Lithuanians in 2008 resulted in Rangers crashing out of Europe - just a few months after competing in the UEFA Cup final.

He said: "There were a good few of them involved when we were knocked out by Kaunas and I would hope that the ones who have been there before and suffered it and tasted it don't want to do that again.

"I don't have to reinforce anything. The team and everybody involved at the club know the importance of the fixture, there is no doubt about that at all."

Meanwhile, Malmo captain Daniel Andersson believes the Swedes will have to be at their best to return home with a positive result from the Ibrox clash.

He said: "It's exciting and we are looking forward to this game. We know that we will have to perform at the top level to get the result here.

"But we are looking forward to playing at Ibrox stadium and playing against this team."