The Scottish champions were paired with the Portuguese outfit in today's draw for the last 32 of the competition, with Lille or PSV Eindhoven waiting in the next round if they advance.

Rangers defeated Sporting at the quarter-final stage in 2008 and got as far as the final in Manchester where they were beaten by Zenit St Petersburg.

The 2-0 aggregate win, coupled with some credible performances in the Champions League this season, will provide encouragement for the Glasgow giants ahead of the tie in February.

But, with the likes of former Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes in their ranks, Smith insists there is no chance of their opponents being taken lightly.

He said: "We know we will face two really tough games because they are playing well at the moment and we had to play well to win there last time out.

"We played some good football against them across the two legs and we will really have to repeat those kinds of levels to have success in the Europa League.

"Of course Pedro Mendes is there so we know the quality of player that we will face."

Like the last time the two clubs met, Rangers play the first leg in front of their own fans at Ibrox and Smith is hoping to claim an early advantage in the tie.

He added: "We've got good experience now in European competitions and we'll need to use that to handle the situations.

"You can use every element to your advantage and we can try to do that with having the first leg at home.

"There is plenty of time between now and the games so we will have them watched closely and will know what we are up against."

After a goalless draw in Glasgow, Jean-Claude Darcheville opened the scoring in the return leg in the Jose Alvalade Stadium the last time around.

Steven Whittaker then came off the bench to steal the show with a superb solo effort in injury time to secure Rangers' progression in the competition - a goal he says is still his most memorable to date.

He told www.rangers.co.uk: "There is no doubt that is the best I have scored, purely because of the importance of it and what it meant to the team.

"When I went on my main aim was to try and get on the ball and run the clock down as there were a few tired legs out there.

"But when I got on it in injury time their defence just opened up and I found myself clean through on goal.

"To see the ball hit the net was an unbelievable feeling, the best ever, and the atmosphere in the dressing room was fantastic.

"To reach the semi-final stage of the UEFA Cup was amazing and it was a terrific away performance from us. The ground holds great memories for me and it will be good to go back."

Rangers earned draws with both Manchester United and Valencia in the Champions League this season, before a third-place finish in the group saw them parachute into the Europa League.

Whittaker knows Sporting will be a different prospect from the side they defeated in 2008 but believes they will still be wary of the threat posed by Smith's men.

He said: "It's going to be tough, no matter who we were drawn against we knew that would be the case.

"I'm sure Sporting will have a different team to what they had in 2008 and we know that Pedro is a quality player. It will be good to catch up with him but hopefully we can do well over the two ties and progress to the next round.

"I think we will go in to the matches with confidence after our performances in the Champions League.

"We have had a good campaign and I think that teams, having seen our results and performances, would have wanted to avoid us in the Europa League.

"I'm sure Sporting Lisbon will feel that that they could have had an easier draw."

The Scottish champions were paired with the Portuguese outfit in today's draw for the last 32 of the competition, with Lille or PSV Eindhoven waiting in the next round if they advance.

Rangers defeated Sporting at the quarter-final stage in 2008 and got as far as the final in Manchester where they were beaten by Zenit St Petersburg.

The 2-0 aggregate win, coupled with some credible performances in the Champions League this season, will provide encouragement for the Glasgow giants ahead of the tie in February.

But, with the likes of former Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes in their ranks, Smith insists there is no chance of their opponents being taken lightly.

He said: "We know we will face two really tough games because they are playing well at the moment and we had to play well to win there last time out.

"We played some good football against them across the two legs and we will really have to repeat those kinds of levels to have success in the Europa League.

"Of course Pedro Mendes is there so we know the quality of player that we will face."

Like the last time the two clubs met, Rangers play the first leg in front of their own fans at Ibrox and Smith is hoping to claim an early advantage in the tie.

He added: "We've got good experience now in European competitions and we'll need to use that to handle the situations.

"You can use every element to your advantage and we can try to do that with having the first leg at home.

"There is plenty of time between now and the games so we will have them watched closely and will know what we are up against."

After a goalless draw in Glasgow, Jean-Claude Darcheville opened the scoring in the return leg in the Jose Alvalade Stadium the last time around.

Steven Whittaker then came off the bench to steal the show with a superb solo effort in injury time to secure Rangers' progression in the competition - a goal he says is still his most memorable to date.

He told www.rangers.co.uk: "There is no doubt that is the best I have scored, purely because of the importance of it and what it meant to the team.

"When I went on my main aim was to try and get on the ball and run the clock down as there were a few tired legs out there.

"But when I got on it in injury time their defence just opened up and I found myself clean through on goal.

"To see the ball hit the net was an unbelievable feeling, the best ever, and the atmosphere in the dressing room was fantastic.

"To reach the semi-final stage of the UEFA Cup was amazing and it was a terrific away performance from us. The ground holds great memories for me and it will be good to go back."

Rangers earned draws with both Manchester United and Valencia in the Champions League this season, before a third-place finish in the group saw them parachute into the Europa League.

Whittaker knows Sporting will be a different prospect from the side they defeated in 2008 but believes they will still be wary of the threat posed by Smith's men.

He said: "It's going to be tough, no matter who we were drawn against we knew that would be the case.

"I'm sure Sporting will have a different team to what they had in 2008 and we know that Pedro is a quality player. It will be good to catch up with him but hopefully we can do well over the two ties and progress to the next round.

"I think we will go in to the matches with confidence after our performances in the Champions League.

"We have had a good campaign and I think that teams, having seen our results and performances, would have wanted to avoid us in the Europa League.

"I'm sure Sporting Lisbon will feel that that they could have had an easier draw."