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Walter Shakes It Up

By Lindsay Herron

WALTER SMITH will shake up his side considerably for tomorow's CIS Cup clash with East Fife but insists he wants to win the trophy.

There could be as many as nine changes to the starting line-up from Sunday's win over Aberdeen in the SPL as Smith grabs the opportunity to give all of his squad some match action.

However, given the depth of the Rangers squad these days there will still be a strong side on the field at East End Park, Dunfermline to face the Third Division leaders.

Guys like Ugo Ehiogu and Thomas Buffel will get their first top team match of the season after recovering from long-term injuries.

And Alan Gow will finally make his competitive debut for the Light Blues having waited patiently for the chance.

It will also be a night for Chris Burke, Kirk Broadfoot and possibly Roy Carroll to come in and show that they can do for the first team with Charlie Adam also likely to feature.

However, the game comes too soon for Andy Webster who has not yet fully recovered from an ankle knock he suffered in a closed door at Ayr just over two weeks ago.

The CIS Cup represents an opportunity for Rangers to get their hands on some silverware after a two-year drought and that fact is not lost on Smith, who won the trophy three times as manager and four times as assistant to Graeme Souness.

He said: "In fairness to everybody in the squad we have to give them the opportunity to play. We increased the numbers in our squad because we felt we had to and when a game like the East Fife one comes up it gives us a chance to use some of those who have not been featuring.

"We want do well in this competition. It's certainly not a situation where we say that the CIS Cup is not a top priority.

"It is a priority because we want to win every competition we compete in.

"The balance to that is the number of games that we have so this is a chance for some players to come in and show what they can do.

"It's a little bit early for Andy. It's disappointing because we got him for the Gretna game and then he was injured in a friendly game.

"It's probably another week or so before Andy comes back in.

"Thomas Buffel and Ugo Ehiogu will come back into the squad for the game. They have played a few friendly games now and they are ready to return.

"It's the first opportunity for them to get a top team outing and they will both be looking forward to that."

Wish i was going to this game.