RANGERS' progress to the UEFA Cup final has bolstered their chances of being listed in the second pot of teams for the draw for the Champions League group stages next season, should they win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Because the top two English teams are in the Champions League final, this year's Scottish champion goes automatically into the group stages, unless Arsenal somehow finish second in the English league. Scotland's runners-up have to play one two-legged qualifier.

The Ibrox club have 66.013 coefficient points, a figure that will rise to 68.181 should they beat Zenit St Petersburg in the final. That would take them above teams such as Sporting Lisbon, Schalke and Juventus and into 21st place on UEFA's list. Sixteen of the top 20 teams either have qualified for the Champions League or still can.

With qualification in some of Europe's top leagues still wide open, many imponderables remain. Assuming Rangers finish with the highest possible coefficient, whether they are placed in the second or third pot would depend on higher-ranked teams not reaching the Champions League; for example AC Milan (ranked second) and Sevilla (seventh), who are battling for their respective leagues' final places.

Rangers will also hope lower-ranked teams such as Sporting and Schalke see off higher-ranked teams such as Benfica and Werder Bremen for the automatic qualification places in their leagues. Even if all goes to plan, they might still need teams to slip up in August's qualification rounds.

Celtic are 41st on UEFA's list with 52.013. Should they reach the group stages of the Champions League next season, they will find themselves in either the third or fourth pot of teams.

Rangers and Celtic's successes in Europe this season have helped maintain Scotland's country ranking, an important factor given that the points Celtic earned on their run to Seville will no longer be included from next season. The coefficent of 33.375 leaves them in 10th, just behind Portugal and the Netherlands.

The countries ranked from seventh to 15th receive two Champions League places each season, while ninth to 15th also gain two UEFA Cup berths.