In what many supporters might view as a controversial take, Steven Naismith believes Ibrox could prove to be Rangers' secret weapon in Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Athletic Club - despite the Light Blues failing to win at home in their last five attempts.
Naismith's surprising emphasis on home advantage flies directly in the face of recent reality, as Barry Ferguson's squad have suffered five consecutive defeats at Ibrox - a stunning reversal of fortune at a venue once considered among European football's most intimidating fortresses.
The passionate Ibrox faithful have been left increasingly frustrated watching their side's alarming collapse on home soil across all competitions.
"For Thursday's encounter with Athletic Bilbao, I feel the first leg being at home should suit Rangers," Naismith claims in his latest BBC Sport column.
"Most European games that are two-legged affairs, particularly in the latter stages of competitions, the first leg is always more cagey. It will probably be accepted a bit more by the Ibrox crowd if Rangers are a bit more solid.
Read more:
-
Barry Ferguson admits mass Ibrox exodus was a 'sore one to take'
-
Rangers' Vaclav Cerny escapes ban, warned by SFA after Celtic 'watergate' incident
"Rangers would bite your hand off to go into that second leg in Bilbao at 0-0. But, make no mistake about it, this will be their toughest European game to date this season.
"They are going to face a seriously technical team who are fourth in Spain's top flight. They have a top, top coach like Ernesto Valverde - a two-time La Liga winner as Barcelona boss - and they play with good tempo in their approach.
"That is their model and how they play, so expect their set-up behind the ball to be really good if counter-attack opportunities arise for Rangers.
"There is no getting away from how big a task this is for Ferguson and his unpredictable players, but that is not to say they cannot hurt them - they can."
The eyebrow-raising optimism about home advantage isn't entirely without merit, as Naismith highlights how European nights seem to bring out a different side to the current squad - even when playing at an Ibrox venue that has recently been more frustration than fortress.
"The fact you need to try to make sense of a season that has been so inconsistent domestically yet so impressive in Europe tells you everything you need to know about this Rangers squad," said the former Hearts manager.
"On paper, European games as well as Old Firm matches seem the hardest because you are playing against a better standard of opposition - but they are the easiest games to get up for."
Naismith suggests that the tactical approach that suits Rangers in Europe might help them overcome their recent Ibrox difficulties against Athletic Club.
"The easier thing to do in football is be a defensive team. That is what I think this Rangers team are more comfortable doing. They feel more at ease playing in a defensively organised team that can then counter-attack," he noted.
Read more:
-
Scott Arfield explains how the Rangers support can 'play their part' vs Bilbao
-
Athletic boss Ernesto Valverde tips Rangers for Europa League glory run
The suggestion that Rangers might be more comfortable not having to force the pace at home - where fans typically expect them to dominate proceedings - offers an interesting perspective on why European nights might yield different results than domestic fixtures.
He continued: "These Rangers players are intelligent footballers. They get the gameplan of stopping the opposition and being clinical on the counter. They have shown that under Barry Ferguson away to Fenerbahce and Celtic playing in a 3-4-3 set-up.
"In those games, when Rangers have won the ball, they have been in positions to score goals because even when they are sitting deep in a defensive formation, they always have three attackers forward.
"Defensively, they have more players deeper in the pitch and enough bodies to defend. And, in the attacking sense, having one striker and two number 10s means it is not just Cyriel Dessers or Vaclav Cerny running forward themselves."
The idea that a goalless draw would be welcomed might resonate with some Rangers supporters who have seen their team struggle to find the net at Ibrox in recent outings.
Despite the scale of the challenge and the concerning home form, Naismith maintains his belief that Rangers can cause problems for their Spanish visitors under the Ibrox lights.
Ultimately, as Rangers gear up for another massive European night, everyone wearing blue-tinted specs will be hoping Naismith’s surprising faith in the Ibrox advantage pays off — and that their side can finally break their home hoodoo when it matters most.
