David McCracken believes Calvin Bassey is good enough to switch to centre-back but he will face a different level of opponent against Lyon.
McCracken was Falkirk manager when Bassey pocketed Connor Sammon in his only start at centre-back for Rangers.
But the 21-year-old is set to face prolific ex-Celtic striker Moussa Dembele on Thursday night with Rangers suffering a defensive crisis.
Filip Helander suffered a serious-looking knee injury against St Johnstone and Gers boss Steven Gerrard is unsure if Connor Goldson will return from self-isolation.
Left-back Bassey is most likely to deputise alongside Leon Balogun in central defence for the Europa League clash and McCracken admits it will be a gruelling test against Dembele.
He said: "We had Conor Sammon up front in that game and Connor is a fair size himself but Bassey seemed more than happy to go and compete with him physically.
“I don’t think that side of playing in the middle will faze him at all. He was happy to go in and have a battle, which is something you need from your centre-backs.
"They need to be prepared to get aggressive when the situation demands that and I’m pretty sure Bassey will do fine on that front.
“It’s a bit of a difference, with all respect, taking on Connor to facing up to Moussa Dembele and that’s the side of the game where he might end up getting exposed against Lyon.
“How will he respond if he’s taken into areas that perhaps he doesn’t want to go or not comfortable in? What will happen to those gaps that he leaves?
"Those are the questions Gerrard will be asking himself.”
Bassey's only ever appearance at centre-back for Rangers resulted in his first ever competitive goal in the 4-0 rout over Falkirk.
The former Leicester City defender played in that position for the English Premier League side at youth level and McCracken believes he demonstrated why Gerrard utilised him in that position during the League Cup tie.
"It was Bassey and Goldson at the back the night we faced them and I remember thinking how assured he was for being a young player new into the team.
“He’s not naturally a centre-back, he’s more used to playing left back, but he came in and looked pretty comfortable in that position.
“He didn’t give much up to the strikers we had up against him and looked happy to step in and play with the ball when Rangers were building out.
“He’s clearly not Rangers’ first choice for that position but I think he showed that night why Steven Gerrard and his coaches felt comfortable enough in playing him there."
