Rangers do not expect Gretna's off-field problems to impact on events on the field when the two clubs meet in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Sunday.

The Borders outfit have endured a testing week ahead of the trip to Ibrox.

Players and staff discovered on Monday that they had not been paid because owner Brooks Mileson was too ill in hospital with a brain infection to perform his weekly signing off of the payroll.

Rumours that the club was about to be plunged into administration quickly followed. That would mean a 10-point penalty being incurred by a side already toiling at the bottom of the SPL.

However, the last 24 hours have yielded better news, with Mileson being released from hospital and payments expected to be made next week.

The turmoil was the last thing Gretna needed before facing the SPL leaders but Ibrox defender Steven Whittaker does not expect Rangers to gain any advantage as a result of their opponents' turbulent week.

"It's obviously a difficult situation for them down there and it's not a nice situation for them to be in," he said.

"Hopefully it will all get sorted out and I'm sure they won't allow it to hamper them in the game and they will be up for the game, and we will need to be at our best.

"Any team who comes to Ibrox, no matter what the situation, are always on top of their game.

"They will get a buzz from playing against Rangers so it's important that we are also on top of our game."

Rangers are on a high following their midweek UEFA Cup triumph over Panathinaikos and Whittaker added: "It's important to keep the momentum going. We need to keep picking up the three points as we go along.

"Gretna gave us a little scare at Fir Park in the last game so we know we have to be at the top of our game to get the three points."

Chris Burke knows the situation facing Gretna is a million miles away from the comfortable lifestyle enjoyed by the playing staff at Rangers and has nothing but sympathy for those players.

He said: "Of course I sympathise with their players because we are in a profession which is our work and everybody has to support their families.

"So I do feel for them, these are hard times. Hopefully it can be sorted out because you don't want to hear that if you are in the football industry."

Gretna were the last team to score against Rangers in the SPL - the 2-1 win on January 16 - and manager Walter Smith is bracing himself for another tough encounter.

He said: "I don't think the situation will affect them greatly.

"It's obviously not to anyone's liking what is happening there but footballers are a resilient bunch and a game at Ibrox is a big game for them.

"They acquitted themselves extremely well when we played them at Motherwell recently when we had to fight very hard to overcome them.

"I don't see that the outside happenings will influence their performance at Ibrox too much."