DREAMS of European glory begin tonight for some of the Continent's smaller clubs and, for exiled Englishman Keith Armstrong, it represents a first step towards a glamour tie against Rangers.

The Continent's premier tournament for club sides, the Champions' League, kicks off with the FC Haka coach insisting that the memory of Scotland's summertime farce against the Faroes will ensure his side make it to Ibrox.

The Finnish champions face island minnows Torshavn in the first leg of the tie to decide who will take on Dick Advocaat's Rangers in the tournament's qualifying round. Armstrong said: ''We have drawn a team from the Faroes, so we have to be confident - but not overly so.

''I'm sure if you asked Craig Brown last month if he was confident he would have said yes, but look what happened. All we can do is concentrate on winning our first game and then thinking about Rangers.''

Rangers will spy on Haka this evening as Advocaat builds a dossier on the first hurdle they must overcome to reach the money-spinning group stages.

Meanwhile, Irish champions St Patrick's Athletic, hoping to benefit from the experience of last season's narrow defeat by Celtic, play host to FC Zimbru of Moldova, Welsh side Barry Town are at home to Valletta of Malta, while Northern Ireland's Glentoran are away to Bulgarians Liteks.

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