Kirk Broadfoot has vowed to rise to the challenge if he is given the job of partnering David Weir in central defence for Rangers' Champions League qualifier against FBK Kaunas at Ibrox tomorrow night.

Carlos Cuellar, Rangers' player of last season, is out with a calf injury sustained in a 2-1 win against Raith Rovers at Stark's Park on Saturday. He underwent a scan yesterday that showed he will not be ready for the visit of the Lithuanian champions.

Walter Smith is now left with a straight choice between Broadfoot or the veteran Christian Dailly beside the 38-year-old vice-captain. Broadfoot joined from St Mirren as a centre-back but performed at right-back for most of last season. He has partnered his mentor, Weir, during the club's pre-season trip to Germany and will relish the intensity of a tie worth a potential £10m, should Rangers reach the group stages.

"I will not let the team down if I play centre-back," he told The Herald. "These games do not faze me. I am not the type to just shy away. I'm not playing the importance of it, I just believe in myself. I will give my best no matter what.

"Carlos is a huge player for us - you don't become player of the year for nothing - and he will be a huge loss if he doesn't make it but I suppose it opens the door for me or Christian Dailly to come in."

Cuellar was rested for the German leg of Rangers' tour having played in the majority of the club's 68 games in all competitions. Smith was left cursing Cuellar's misfortune as he hobbled off with a strained muscle in his first start of pre-season.

"It is Sod's Law," said Broadfoot. "It is unfortunate for him but I don't think he will be out for too long. We have some important games coming up, though, so he will be a huge loss no matter how long he is out."

"Of course, everyone is aware of the importance of the game and what it means for this club to be involved in the Champions League. The qualifiers are some of the most high pressure games of the season because they come so early but we will be ready for it. We don't fear them, we look forward to them."

Broadfoot has already resumed his one-on-one sessions with Weir after training at Murray Park and said the lessons have been invaluable to his development, especially since having to reinvent himself last season.

"We have already had a few sessions between us; he is brilliant," said Broadfoot. "We just talk about things like starting positions, when to show a player inside and where you should be moving. To be honest, I was a bit reckless when I arrived but I have learned a lot from his experience.

"I have played beside him in a couple of games this pre-season and he has been a huge help because he talks you through everything. As a right-back you feel you need to get forward more and I needed a reminder that I was centre-back in a couple of games when I tried to charge forward."

Broadfoot enjoyed a steep learning curve last year when he was confronted by Adrian Mutu in Rangers' UEFA Cup semi-final win against Fiorentina and Andrei Arshavin, one of the stars of Euro 2008, in the final defeat to Zenit St Petersburg. It has equipped him with the experience to handle any challenge.

"Last year was unbelievable, especially the UEFA Cup final but that is in the past now," he said. "I can use the experience of playing against Arshavin and Mutu but it is how you play in the present that counts. It was new to a lot of us last season and it will help us this time. At a club like Rangers you have to live with this pressure or there is no point being here."