STEVEN Gerrard has warned his Rangers defenders they will have to make nullifying the threat posed by Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis a priority to beat Willem II and keep their hopes of reaching the Europa League group stages for the third season running alive.

The Ibrox club take on their Dutch rivals in a one-off third qualifying round match in the Koning Willem II Stadion in Tilburg on Thursday night and Gerrard expects it to be a demanding 90 minutes.

The former Liverpool and England midfielder wasted no time analysing Adrie Koster’s side after the 5-0 win over part-time Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar this week and he quickly identified Pavlidis as their danger man.

The 6ft 1in 21-year-old scored 13 times for the Eredivisie outfit last season and helped them to finish fifth in their league – and he netted a brace in a 5-0 triumph over Progres Niederkorn of Luxembourg this week.

Gerrard’s charges broke a Scottish record for keeping clean sheets at the start of a new league season that had stood for 114 years last weekend when they completed their seventh Premiership game without conceding.

But he knows that shackling Greek front man Pavlidis, who opened his account for his country in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina last term, will require his rearguard to be at their very best.

"Willem II are a good team,” said Gerrard. “We know the level is going to increase dramatically from Thursday night, with all due respect (to Red Imps).

“They have exciting attacking players, they play with a striker who is quite physical called Pavlidis who is a goalscorer, a good player. So we know the level of the competition is going to get tougher.

“That's always been the case in the previous two years and we expect that when we face Willem next week. But it's a game that we are looking forward to. Hopefully we can get through the Hibs game with a win and be in a fantastic place to go into the Willem game.”

Rangers will face Galatasaray of Turkey or Hadjuk Split of Croatia in the play-off if they overcome Willem II and Gerrard has urged his players to step up their games and rise to the tests in front of them.

"I have a lot of confidence in the squad, that we have the right quality,” he said. “Of course, I've gone on record saying I would like to add to that. To win comfortably on Thursday night with the injuries we've got last night was pleasing, but we need to continue without those players.

“The next two weeks are going to get a lot tougher, the challenges are coming thick and fast, so I need my players to be big, to stand up and be bold and show the character that I believe they have to get through the next two weeks as well as last night.”

Gerrard added: “I’ve made no secret we are actively trying to pursue targets. But the most important thing is the players in the building right now.

“I need them to stand up, I need them to be robust and pull through for me. Certainly the next couple of weeks as the games are coming thick and fast. We’ve got too many in the treatment room at the moment, but there were a lot of positives from Thursday night.”

Gerrard continued: “In terms of numbers in the forward areas we’re pretty happy. In the midfield area where I’ve said we need to add and where I feel we’re slightly stretched.

“I’m sure we’ll be fine for the weekend but I’d like to have another in but not just a number. It needs to be the right player who will improve the team and take us forward.”