Weir insists Turkish trip is important

The Ibrox club travelled to Turkey yesterday knowing they have no chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the tournament but also safe in the knowledge that their place in the Europa League is secure.

While three points would improve Scotland's co-efficient ranking in Europe, and guarantee Rangers a reported 750,000 in prize money, the fixture is seen by many as a dead rubber with perhaps next weekend's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Inverness more important

However, Weir said: "This game is the priority. The next game is always the priority for Rangers. You have to win the next game at Rangers. End of.

"Anything else further down the line doesn't really matter because if you don't win this one you are in a bad situation because every game you lose or don't play well in is a disaster."

While Manchester United and Valencia fight for the top spot, Weir believes it was the two games against the Spanish side which determined Rangers' fate. The first game at Ibrox ended in a 1-1 draw while the return match ended in a 3-0 defeat for Walter Smiths' men.

"We knew that both games against Valencia were big games," the former Everton and Hearts stopper said. "We knew that they were probably going to be our rivals for second place. If you were going to be realistic about the group, they were the games that dictated whether or not you got into the last 16 and unfortunately we never got the results we probably deserved, certainly in the first game."

Defender Sasa Papac and midfielder Maurice Edu did not travel to Turkey, but stopper Madjid Bougherra has recovered from his hamstring injury and is likely to start.