We'll just stick to the flame plan

Diomande says heat of Olympic Stadium holds no fear for Gers ... they've seen it all before

- FRASER WILSON

THEY avoided combusting in a Piraeus powder keg and kept their cool in a Fenerbahce firepit.

Now, a season on from passing those red-hot tests in some of Europe's most volatile arenas, Mohamed Diomande is confident Rangers are ready to put out Panathinaikos' flame in Athens' Olympic Stadium.

Diomande insists there is no fear heading into tonight's Champions League qualifying crunch.

Not after coming through last season's incendiary clashes with Olympiakos and Fener on their way to the Europa League quarterfinals.

The midfielder excelled on both occasions - a 1-1 draw with the side that would go on to become Greek champions followed by a 3-1 win that dumped the Special One Jose Mourinho in the Turkish side's version of hell.

So when Panathinaikos boss Rui Vitoria attempted to get into Rangers' heads yesterday by warning no visiting team finds it easy against his side in Athens, Diomande wasn't buying it.

He is confident his teammates have the icy characters required to handle whatever's thrown at them, maybe even literally, and to stick to the game plan.

The Greeks might be lodging at the magnificent 70,000 stadium - meaning their notorious 'Gate 13' ultras are off home territory - but Vitoria insists a "hot atmosphere" still awaits.