Walter Smith is hoping a hectic fixture schedule will actually work in Rangers' favour as they attempt to wrest the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League title from Celtic's grasp over the next seven days.
The manager admits his players are still suffering from the psychological blow of losing out to Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday.
But, with a domestic treble still a possibility, the outcome of Saturday's league match at Motherwell is set to have a major bearing on the destination of the SPL trophy.
Smith is pleased his players will have had little time to dwell on what might have been in Manchester.
"We can't hide the disappointment that we feel at losing a European final and having to play again early on a Saturday after a Wednesday night may well be a good thing for us," he said.
"The importance of the fixture itself may take away a little bit of the disappointment.
"Everybody here faces a big test to get themselves lifted and get through what is an unusual circumstance for any team - playing three important league games in such a short space of time and all of them away from home.
"It's a difficult task and one that not many teams are asked to do.
"Every one of us has a job to get on with. We suffered a disappointment the other night and we know we have to get over that and adjust to an end to a season that very few teams have had to overcome."
Smith knows his players are still hurting after narrowly missing out on the club's first European trophy since 1972 but he insists they have no choice but to pick themselves up for the massive week which lies ahead.
He said: "The stakes are high for us and we know we need a tremendous reaction from all the players if we are to achieve.
"We've had a tremendous reaction from them all season.
"There is a bit more tension because the championship is coming to a close and it's going to be a tight one but apart from that we will just try to have the same focus as we have had all season.
"I hope they will be ready. It's easy from a managerial point of view to sit on the outside and then point out a few things.
"The players are the ones who have to show that they have had no effect from the disappointment.
"We just have to hope that we get the proper reaction from them. The team this season has given us confidence that will be the case."
Rangers have already come through an exhausting 64 games in what has been an epic campaign, with such a gruelling schedule already taking its toll on personnel.
Smith admitted: "We have to make changes to the team over the next few games.
"If you play on a Saturday and then again on a Monday night and then another game on Thursday and then a cup final on the Saturday afternoon, you are not going to get through that with the same 11 players.
"However, a few might have to play in all of the games."
If Rangers win the SPL, they are expected to gain direct entry to the group stages of the Champions League.
"It becomes a factor but it doesn't become a motivation," said Smith.
"The motivation more than anything else is to win and I don't think you go out thinking about any other aspect other than the fact that you want to win.
"That's the biggest motivation of all.
"We want something tangible from our remaining games of the season and we know we can achieve that. We don't need any greater motivation than that."
