Baskakov was criticised by Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov and former head coach Valdas Ivanauskas following their Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens in August 2006.

Julian Brellier was famously sent off for picking up two yellow cards, the first of those for wearing an earring, as Hearts slumped to a 5-1 aggregate defeat.

Neil McCann also saw red in the clash in Athens, prompting then Hearts star Paul Hartley to brand Baskakov's performance "shocking".

The 43-year-old has refereed three Champions League games this season, including Arsenal's group game against Steaua Bucharest, and Smith sees no reason to be worried ahead of the quarter-final, first leg at Ibrox.

"Not at all," he insisted. "That's the one thing about this season, the referees in the European games have been absolutely excellent."

Smith is more interested in his own players' performances, warning that Rangers face elimination from the competition unless they are on top form over the two legs.

A mixture of hard work and good fortune saw off Panathinaikos and Werder Bremen in previous rounds and Smith is hoping for more of the same this time around.

"They have to keep the same approach as they have had throughout the season," he said.

"That's the most important thing for us.

"There can be no thoughts of anything other than continuing what we have been doing and that has been working very hard in each of the games we have played.

"If we don't, like one or two of the matches we have played this season, we won't succeed.

"Fortunately, we have had a really good reaction from everyone over the season and everyone that comes in has applied themselves to the full.

"We need that, there's no way there can be a situation within the squad where they feel as though they can relax."

Few would have predicted Rangers' European campaign would still be going strong in April after being drawn against Barcelona, Lyon and Stuttgart in a difficult Champions League group.

But a surprisingly fruitful run in the UEFA Cup has prompted Smith to confess he is now beginning to believe reaching the final could be a possibility.

"The longer you remain in the tournament, the more you start to think about it," he admitted.

"I don't think we would have considered that at the start of the season, we appreciate how difficult it is and how narrow the margin of error is.

"In the second leg of the last round, Werder Bremen couldn't have competed any better than they did and we found ourselves going through with a bit of luck.

"We know the margins are tight and we just have to try to keep doing what we have been doing and hope it's good enough."

Rangers already have one trophy in the bag and, with three more up for grabs, fans are hungry for further success having endured two barren campaigns.

"The level of expectation is something you actually strive to get," said Smith.

"If you're going to be successful, then there is obviously a rise in expectation and you have to live with that.

"It's part and parcel of being involved with a team who can be successful. We have still to show that we can handle that aspect of it and that's a big challenge for everyone here.

"Now there is a level of expectation and we have to show we can handle it."