Stuttgart manager Markus Babbel admits it will be a boost if Rangers are missing Madjid Bougherra for the Champions League clash at Ibrox.
Rangers manager Walter Smith remained coy over the chances of a recall for Bougherra, who returned late for international duty for the third time last week.
The Algerian has not played for Rangers since September because of illness, injury and his inability to get back from Africa on time.
And Babbel agreed his continued absence would suit Stuttgart, who were denied an opening victory against Rangers when the defender netted a second-half equaliser.
"Of course, he's a fantastic player," Babbel said.
"He scored in the first game and is very strong at the back. If he can't play, it's not bad for us."
However, Babbel feels 17-year-old Danny Wilson has the talent to continue deputising in central defence after again looking assured as Rangers won 3-0 against Kilmarnock.
"I saw the game on Saturday, he's a big talent," Babbel said.
"If you can play at 17 years in the Scottish league you have to be good, especially if you play for a team like Glasgow Rangers."
Babbel's team were less successful on Saturday, drawing 1-1 at home to bottom club Hertha Berlin to fall into the bottom three of the Bundesliga.
But the former Liverpool defender can find some comfort in facing a Rangers side who are one point worse off than his side in Group G.
"The quality is quite high in the German League, if you watch our games we created many chances, we played quite well but we can't score all the time," he said.
"We make easy mistakes and concede goals but I'm confident about this game."
Rangers boss Smith has refused to rule out handing Kris Boyd a rare Champions League outing.
The striker has spent most European nights kicking his heels on the bench, with Kenny Miller usually given the nod in the lone striker role favoured by the Rangers boss.
In fact, Boyd's one and only start in the competition was in a qualifying match against Montenegrin side Zeta back in July 2007 and he has made no secret of his desire to play a bigger role in the tournament.
He could finally be granted his wish with Smith possibly tempted to opt for a two-pronged attack in a match he knows Rangers must win to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages alive.
Boyd and Miller have proved to be an effective partnership in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, with both on the scoresheet in the win over Kilmarnock, and the former notching his eighth goal of the season.
Asked whether he will stick with the same front pairing against the Germans, Smith smiled: "You will have to wait and see."
But he admitted Boyd is in his thoughts for the match, adding: "You are always tempted to play him.
"There is always a temptation to play anyone who gets his number of goals and there has been since I came here.
"There have been some games where it has worked okay leaving him out and there have been some games where I wish I had put him in."
