Mention spirit at Ibrox this week and you'd be forgiven the image of an empty bottle and a manager nursing an aching head such are the problems facing Walter Smith's side.

A place in the Scottish Cup Final secured, the Rangers boss now has the small matter of a Uefa Cup semi-final which is quickly followed by another critical - is there any other kind? - Old Firm clash on Sunday afternoon.

That in itself is something to be celebrated rather than sweated, but the personnel who will be missing is causing the consternation at Murray Park this week.

Midfielder Brahim Hemdani, however, has called upon the unity and bold spirit that has served Rangers so well this season to be utilised as Smith's side aim to take the first step toward the Uefa Cup Final.

The realisation of such an ambition would be quite an achievement, particularly since it will have to be done without the spine of the side.

Barry Ferguson has not been at his best in recent weeks but his leadership qualities on the big nights are always something which can gee on both the support and those around him.

His loss due to suspension is not helped by the fact Kevin Thomson will also be in the stand, while Lee McCulloch, Charlie Adam, Chris Burke, Steven Naismith and Allan McGregor are also sidelined.

"It is a major problem," said Hemdani. "We have the chance to win four competitions, but having another two players out from Sunday's game is a real nightmare for the manager. It comes at the worst time when we have so many big games, but we have to pull together and try to get on with it.

"We have got as far as this because we have worked hard as a unit and there has been a lot of spirit about the side. We have to maintain that for these last few weeks of the season.

"Whoever comes in knows what is at stake and everyone in the squad is up to the task.

"Thursday is massive for us because it is the chance to reach the Uefa Cup Final and I think everyone understands just how big an achievement that would be for Rangers."

The trauma of the last- minute Old Firm defeat was evident against St Johnstone at Hampden on Sunday as Rangers produced arguably their worst performance of the season.

But Hemdani has insisted that confidence remains high in the Ibrox dressing room.

And rightly so. Having come further than anyone would have envisaged this time 12 months ago, Rangers now have the opportunity to put themselves firmly on the map by reaching a major European final and Hemdani knows that a big performance is called for on Thursday night.

It's not just that Smith's side will have to be wary of Fiorentina hitting them on the break, but they also have to be clinical when they get their chances.

"We will have to be careful against Fiorentina because they are a very good side and defensively we are going to have to be at our best," he said. "I think they will try to hit us on the break and with someone like Adrian Mutu, they could have only one chance in the whole game and take it.

"I think a lot of people might have been looking at the performance against St Johnstone and would have been surprised because we would have been expected to win comfortably.

"But they fought for every-thing and played very well and you get days when nothing goes in for you. Our confidence has not been dented by the Old Firm defeat and we are confident that we can end the season with a lot to show for our efforts. We are all looking forward to playing in these games because they are huge for the club and we have a lot of belief about us.

"It is a bit harder that we are at home first, because sometimes it is better if you know exactly what you have to do in the second leg and you are in front of your own supporters. But it has been like this in most of the games in the Uefa Cup for us so we just have to get on with it.

"We showed in Portugal against Sporting Lisbon that we are capable of playing well in Europe and we will have to be as strong as that again.

"I thought we were unlucky against St Johnstone because we had a lot of chances to score and, against Fiorentina, we won't get so many. Whatever we get, we will have to be on our toes and try to make them count because it would be ideal to go to Italy with a lead and, of course, a clean sheet."

Rangers will relish the prospect of facing Queen of the South in the Final - all but guaranteeing a Treble unless there's a collapse of massive proportions - and Hemdani is greedy for all he can get.

That means there will be no back-slapping at Murray Park this week but rather a steady stare at the challenges that lie ahead over the next five days.

Hemdani added: "We know we played poorly at Hampden. There are always times like that in football but the most important thing was that we got ourselves into the final.

"Now we have to put it out of our heads. It is great we can win another cup and when the time comes we will want to get it, but we don't have the chance to look forward to it.

"There are so many games for us that as soon as the whistle blows on one we are looking to the next."

Success in this one and the glasses really will be clinking.