From Andrew Dickson in Gelsenkirchen

SCHALKE 04 coach Fred Rutten is looking forward to seeing his men tested for the first time today when they face Rangers at the Veltins Arena.

The teams will meet in a friendly this afternoon to mark the foundation of a charity project the German club is involved in.

For Royal Blues manager Rutten, the game will be his first in Gelsenkirchen since he left the same post at Dutch outfit Twente Enschede in the summer.

And he is relishing the chance to see what his men, who reached the last eight in last season's Champions League, are made of when they take on Walter Smith's Gers.

Rutten said: "The match against Rangers is an important one in terms of our preparations for the new season.

"It is good for us at this stage of the campaign that we are able to play against a team of such high standing.

"We have been back in pre-season training for three weeks now and we want to show our fans where we are after doing so much hard work to get fit.

"But we know how difficult a test it will be against Rangers. After all, they managed to get to the final of the UEFA Cup last season.

"Even though Barry Ferguson is injured, his team-mates have great spirit and that makes them a hard team for any side to overcome."

Rutten has injury problems of his own and is likely to be without former Light Blues winger Peter Lovenkrands as he has an ankle problem.

He is keen to get the Dane back in action as soon as possible as he has big plans for him this season after he had a disjointed campaign last term.

Rutten added: "Peter got hurt last week in a friendly with a lower-league side and sadly can't practice just now so it looks as though he will miss the Rangers game.

"He is a high-class striker so from that point of view, I hope he is fit again soon as he is an important member of our team."