Scottish Football: Dream team stir

WALTER SMITH, the Rangers manager, is set to unleash his dream team strike-force on Hibernian at Easter Road today. Because of Ally McCoist's calf injury, Brian Laudrup and Mark Hateley and McCoist have been restricted to only 50 minutes of senior football together.

McCoist looks set to replace Charlie Miller, although the 18- year-old may remain in the squad ahead of Hibs old boy Gordon Durie, who is available after a suspension.

Rangers are a point ahead of Celtic at the top of the Premier Division and four clear of third- placed Hibs. Smith said: 'After the disastrous start to the season we had we need victories in every game right now.'

Celtic, who receive Aberdeen at Hampden in a rehearsal of their Coca-Cola Cup semi-final at Ibrox this month, yesterday lodged their appeal with the Scottish Football Association against a pounds 100,000 fine from the Scottish League for poaching Burns from Kilmarnock. It will be heard by the a six-man appeals committee, chaired by Brechin's Hugh Campbell Adamson, on Wednesday.