By Andy Campbell

Dodds scored a vital double for Rangers against Kaunas in 2000

Former Rangers striker Billy Dodds says the Ibrox club will be too strong for FBK Kaunas should the two sides meet in the Champions League qualifiers.

But Dodds has warned Walter Smith's side to be on their guard against the Lithuanians, who must beat Santa Coloma before they can face Rangers.

BBC Scotland pundit Dodds scored twice when Rangers met Kaunas in 2000.

"Rangers should be too strong, but if you're not firing on all cylinders you can certainly get caught out," he said.

Dodds came off the bench to score a double and all but seal Rangers' passage to the next round when Kaunas visited Ibrox at the start of the 2000/01 season.

"We struggled in the first leg," the former Scotland striker said.

"We were only 2-1 up with quarter of an hour to go and I managed to score two and it made the tie a whole lot easier.

"In Kaunas, we ended up drawing 0-0 and it was comfortable, but you certainly wouldn't like to be going there with only one goal in it, especially if they score an away goal.

Velicka is due to arrive at Ibrox this close season

"It's hard place to go with rundown pitches, wide open stadiums and no atmosphere."

Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov is a shareholder in the bank that sponsors Kaunas and many players from the Lithuanian club have been loaned to the Tynecastle outfit over the past three years.

These include Marius Zaliukas, Deividas Cesnauskis and Andrius Velicka, who is set to join Rangers from Viking Stravanger later this month.

"They certainly have a decent standard, but I think Rangers have got a better standard," added Dodds.

"I would say most of their better players have gone now. The standard must be dropping because Hearts are not taking as many as they used to."