The Glasgow giants take on Parma at Ibrox in the third round of the UEFA Cup on Tuesday - just three days after they were thrashed 5-1 by city rivals Celtic.

But Advocaat has put the defeat behind him as he awaits the visit of the big-name Italian side, who are fifth in Serie A.

"The Parma game is nothing to do with the result on Saturday," he said. "But in terms of confidence we should remember that we remain seven points ahead of Celtic in the league.

"It is unfortunate that the first leg is at home because it really means we have to score but we know that and I still believe we have the quality to do that.

"Parma have a good system and fine players but we cannot let them relax and play their normal game because they will enjoy that too much and capitalise."

Rangers will have to counter the threat of Parma's host of leading internationals, including World Cup winning defender Lilian Thuram, Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron and Mario Stanic of Croatia.

But the visitors will be without former Newcastle striker Faustino Asprilla, who has a persistent knee injury, Italy frontman Enrico Chiesa and defender Diego Fuser.

Rangers have their own worries ahead of the tie.

Dutch midfielder Giovanni Van Bronckhurst, the club's most impressive player this season, is suspended, while Finnish star Jonatan Johansson, who scored in both legs in the second round victory over Bayer Leverkusen, faces a late fitness test on a thigh strain.

French striker Stephane Guivarc'h is ineligble, so Advocaat is keeping his fingers crossed that Johansson makes the side.