Zenit St Petersburg defender Fernando Ricksen believes the Rangers fans could make all the difference when the two teams meet in the UEFA Cup final.
While the Russians are not expected to bring many supporters to Manchester for Wednesday's clash, tens of thousands of Light Blues fans are expected to descend upon the city over the next few days.
Those without tickets for the City of Manchester Stadium will arrive in hope of somehow snapping them up on the day for Rangers' first European final in 36 years.
And Ricksen -- who spent six years at Ibrox before being despatched to Zenit in the summer of 2006 by then-boss Paul Le Guen -- is relishing the prospect of renewing acquaintances with his former club's fans.
"I'm very respectful of the fans and I'm very happy with the fans," he said when asked what sort of reception he can expect.
"It's too bad I'm not playing on that side because I know how much of an influence they can be.
"We will see how it goes but I will be happy to see them again.
"I'm happy to be back in the UK and it's the UEFA Cup final, so I'm looking forward to it."
Ricksen is not surprised to be crossing swords with his old teammates again so soon.
He said: "Rangers are a top club and top clubs compete in Europe so I thought we would meet again at one point.
"I've not spoken to any of my old teammates though."
Rangers have defied the odds to overcome Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina to come this far.
But Zenit's emphatic 5-1 aggregate semifinal win over Bayern Munich means they will be firm favourites to clinch the trophy.
Ricksen said: "We can play good football and we have to show that again but it's a one-off game so we will see how it goes."
Meanwhile, Zenit defender Anatoliy Tymoschuk faced the other half of the Old Firm with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League in 2004 and is expecting more of the same from Rangers.
"I think it will be a similar game," he said.
"Rangers play the same system as Celtic. This match will be very difficult for my team.
"Rangers are a good team and we must play better than them."
