Rangers' Pompey test

Published on Friday 19 June 2009 22:45

RANGERS will continue their preparations for the new season with a friendly against Portsmouth.

The Scottish champions will travel south to face the Barclays Premier League outfit at Fratton Park on Saturday, 8 August.

Walter Smith's men face Pompey after a three-game trip to Germany in July and Emirates' Cup ties against Paris St Germain and Arsenal in early August.

Smith said: "This will be another good test for the players as we prepare for the defence of our SPL title and the group stage of the Champions League.

"Portsmouth did well to win the FA Cup two seasons ago and matches at Fratton Park are always difficult for any team.

"In recent years we have played Chelsea and Liverpool and with Arsenal to come in the Emirates Cup in August followed by Portsmouth, our players will enjoy a solid pre-season workout against two good English Premiership sides."

The Fratton Park friendly will see Rangers' Portuguese midfielder Pedro Mendes face his former club a year after moving to Ibrox in a 3million deal.