By Andrew Dickson

WALTER SMITH insists the prospect of Wednesday's UEFA Cup final will not influence his team selection against Dundee United this weekend.

Rangers take on the Arabs tomorrow lunchtime in their final game before they play Zenit St Petersburg at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Smith will obviously want to play his strongest team possible in midweek as the Light Blues try to win their first European trophy for 36 years.

But with an SPL title still to win, the manager will not wrap his key players in cotton wool when Craig Levein's men come calling.

Smith said: "We've not been thinking ahead to other fixtures before games recently and we won't do that this weekend.

"Some of our players have had a little bit of strain placed on them with the number of matches they have had to play but that is just the way it is.

"The boys want to play and I think they've shown that physically, they're handling the situation. Mentally, they are getting there now too.

"They are starting to see the beginning of the end of our schedule and they're looking forward to each match.

"We are in good shape in the sense that even though this will be our fourth outing in nine days, we look like we're ready for the remaining games."

Having only won once over 90 minutes in four meetings with United this season, Smith anticipates a tough afternoon.

Indeed, his team has had to come from behind five times in the last two games with the Arabs and only won the CIS Cup final against them in March on penalties.

Smith added: "This will be a difficult game. Dundee United and ourselves have fought out some really close ones this season.

"They've all been very good matches and I don't see tomorrow's being any different from the other ones we have had.

"Craig has his squad very well organised. His players have a lot of strength and confidence which is good at this time of the season.

"They are now showing consistency to fight for a place in Europe and that is a terrific turnaround when you consider where they've come from."

Charlie Adam and Lee McCulloch are both fit to play and are in the Gers squad, although it seems the match has come slightly too early for DaMarcus Beasley.

Allan McGregor, Steven Naismith and Chris Burke will also miss out with long-term injuries.

Smith said: "Charlie got a few minutes at the end of the Motherwell game on Wednesday and Lee is fit as well so it is good they are back.

"DaMarcus is just about ready to play as well, although our obvious problem there is the length of time he has been out.

"With there being such a short space of time between now and the end of the season, you wonder and bringing him back in.

"But he is keen to start playing again and considering we still have a fair number of games left, it would be nice to have him in the team again."