Rangers will still be without goalkeeper Andy Goram and captain Richard Gough when they travel to Kirkcaldy tonight - but there remains an outside chance that Paul Gascoigne could return in a game which Ibrox manager Walter Smith refuses to accept can clinch the title.
''We require four points from our remaining four games before we can talk about winning the title,'' said Smith. ''That is not going to change. If you cast your mind back a few years, then you will remember Celtic winning the last game of the season by 5-0 and taking the championship.
''So we need four points and that's that. We will not be accepting the title before that is achieved.''
As regards his team selection for the Raith Rovers' game, Smith is listing the 14 players who were on duty in the last game against Dunfermline and adding Ian Ferguson, clear of suspension, and Gascoigne.
It will be today, however, before he will make up his mind on final team selection for a venue which has been troublesome for his team. The Rangers' manager pointed out that while Raith are anchored at the bottom of the table, their performances against the Old Firm on their own ground this season have not contributed to that position.
''We could only draw there earlier this season and Celtic had a late winner in one game and then a draw in the other. But we are going there looking for three of the points. Gascoigne has been training with the first team for a few days but is short of match fitness.''
Meanwhile, the injury problems persist, and Chilean striker Sebastian Rozental, a #3m buy at the turn of the year, is back in hospital in Los Angeles.
Rozental underwent surgery there in February. Now he has suffered a slight reaction and has returned to the clinic for observation and treatment to his damaged knee.
Said Smith: ''At first it seemed to be an infection which caused his knee to swell but now, apparently, the specialist feels he may have jolted the knee. But returning to Los Angeles is really precautionary more than anything else.''
Rozental had been back in Santiago receiving a player of the year award when the reaction came.
q Duncan Shearer will be offered a new pay-per-play deal to remain with Aberdeen.
The former Scotland striker, mainly used as a substitute for most of the season, seemed certain to leave Pittodrie at the end of the season when his contract expired.
However, manager Roy Aitken said yesterday: ''He will be offered something as he is can still score goals.''
Shearer added: ''I'm almost 35 now so I'm happy to still be playing for a top club like Aberdeen.
''But I have been in the game long enough to realise that there comes a time when you have to make way for younger players.''
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