MICHAEL BEALE will have three midfield jerseys to hand out at Hampden. The coming days will determine how many bodies he has available to fill them.
When the team was named for the Premiership fixture with Livingston on Saturday, the focus was as much on those who hadn't made it rather than the ones that Beale had picked. In a season where Rangers have been ravaged by injuries, that situation in itself is nothing new.
If there were any fears over how a depleted team would fare at one of the toughest venues in the country, they were soon allayed. As some fine individual performances were produced, an accomplished collective showing got the rewards that it more than merited as James Tavernier netted twice - one from the penalty spot and the other from a free-kick - and Kemar Roofe rounded off a 3-0 victory.
Afterwards, Beale addressed the state of his squad and the fortunes and fitness of three players in particular will be at the forefront of his mind in the coming days. Supporters can only hope for the best, too, as Ryan Jack, John Lundstram and Malik Tillman race against the clock before kick-off on Sunday afternoon.
In an ideal world, Beale will have six options, at least, to choose from as he bids to mastermind a victory over Celtic that would give Rangers the first silverware of the season and be a marker of where they are heading as much as where they are right now.
The three that played on Saturday - Nicolas Raskin, Glen Kamara and Todd Cantwell - will hope that they have done enough to keep their shirt and earned their place in the Viaplay Cup final. The latter two are up for debate but Raskin should be certain of his spot.
The main takeaway from his seven-minute debut against Ross County a fortnight ago seemed to centre around his socks. In the win over Partick Thistle at Ibrox, the Belgian let his feet do the talking as he strolled through the Scottish Cup tie.
A trip to Livingston was a very different proposition for Raskin. This was his first real introduction to the other side of Scottish football. It was one he passed with flying colours.
"Yeah I feel good," Raskin said. "The boys have helped me a lot.
"We still have some connections to make and to get better. Like sometimes I want to play forward because I'm used to playing forward.
"We just need to know each other better. But I've only been here for three weeks and as time goes on we'll get better and better."
When Raskin completed his move from Standard Liege on deadline day, Beale spoke enthusiastically about what he believed the Belgian would bring to the team. The first impressions have been more than positive.
Beale insisted Raskin would not be a 'little Rottweiler' but the way in which he covers the ground will certainly endear him to supporters. There is nothing frantic or aimless in the way that Raskin operates and he is composed on the ball as well as tactically disciplined off it.
Capable of playing as a six or an eight, he offers Rangers the natural energy you would associate with a 21-year-old but it is eagerness to play forward, to play with his head up, that has stood out so far. For the second time in a week, he outperformed his partner as Kamara was utilised alongside him and Cantwell was given the task of filling the void left by Tillman's absence.
Raskin was brought to Ibrox to be a starter rather than a squad player. Playing in an Old Firm final just weeks into his Rangers career could be viewed as daunting but his history in the famous fixtures with Anderlecht have shaped and prepared Raskin for what will unfold at Hampden.
"I scored in the two derbies that we played back home," Raskin said. "I'm used to playing in those kind of games with a lot of pressure, a lot of tension in the game. I love it.
"In fact, I love playing in games like next week more than games like Saturday's. All football players like to play in big games and next Sunday is a very big game, so I'm looking forward to it."
He is not the only one. The Old Firm final offers the kind of opportunity that attracts players to Ibrox in the first place and a winner's medal would be a milestone moment in a career that was on an upward trajectory, for both club and country, for so long.
The final months of Raskin's time at Liege were difficult and not how either party wished a relationship that had been mutually beneficial to end. There are no hard feelings towards a man who knows all about life in Glasgow, though.
"Not yet but he'll maybe send me a text," Raskin said when asked if he had heard from Ronny Deila, the current Standard boss and former Celtic manager, ahead of his first derby day experience. "But you know, he's busy with something else now.
"Ronny and I have a good relationship. He helped me a lot to grow.
"Yeah he's sent me some texts [previously], we talked a bit. We'd already talked a bit before I left but he's on the other side!
"I don't know [if he will want me to win against Celtic]. We don't speak about that! I'm sure he'll want me to win!"
Barely half an hour had passed since the full-time whistle when Raskin arrived at the door of the media room at the Tony Macaroni Arena. The game that he just played in was naturally at the forefront of his mind but the whirlwind nature of Scottish football means that attentions quickly turn, especially when Celtic are on the horizon.
Raskin greeted everyone with a smile and a handshake. As players and staff filtered past and the noise level spiked, the Belgian focused to pick up the questions and provide answers in English as his language improves alongside his fitness.
The plastic pitch at Almondvale wasn't an issue as Raskin cites his familiarity with such surfaces from his formative years in his homeland. The raucous travelling support was, however, something new and something to behold.
"I think it was something special because we felt at home with more fans than Livingston," Raskin said.
"It's the first time I've played away but feel like home, so it was very nice. I've never experienced an away support like that."
This was the day that Beale was bidding for a 13th victory as manager. It didn't prove to be an unlucky occasion as the goal was achieved but Rangers again saw their efforts prove in vain in terms of the title race as the deficit to Celtic remained at nine points.
The penalty from Tavernier was clinical and his free-kick was classy. The third that Roofe scrambled home was deserved and Rangers departed with the job well done once again.
Raskin said: "We showed personality and character but playing quick and getting connection with the ball [was also important]. I think we had to get them to move a lot, to create more space.
"It would have been easier if we'd scored earlier in the game but I think we did very good."
