Boss Pavel Vrba is targeting a turning point in Sparta Prague's season this week - kick-starting with a win over Rangers.
The Czech side crushed struggling Zlin to earned their first league win in two games ahead of their Europa League showdown with Steven Gerrard 's men.
With a derby day clash against Slavia just around the corner, Vrba has highlighted the clash with Rangers as chance to put down a marker.
He insists they have been improving steadily this season, as they sit two points off the top of the First League leaders Viktoria Plzen heading into a blockbuster week.
He reckons the 5-2 drubbing of Zlin signals that they are back to their best ahead of hosting the Premiership champions.
The Sparta Prague boss told the Czech press: "After dropping points in our last two games, it's good that we won by such a difference. Five goals away from home, that's positive.
"I am glad that we keep contact with the top teams in the table, because it gives us a little bounce.
"We try to practice our high standards a lot, sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.
"But we are collecting ourselves now. I am glad that then our quality in the transition phase, speed, was shown. That's what we decided after the break.
"The next two matches are very important to us. Both in terms of developments in the European League and in domestic competition."
