WALTER SMITH will be banned from the Ibrox dugout for the Old Firm showdown later this month.

The Rangers boss was sent to the stand during the 1-0 win over Hibs in the fifth-round replay yesterday to earn an automatic two-match ban.

It begins 14 days from the date of the offence, which means Smith's ban won't commence until March 23 - just before Celtic travel to Ibrox on March 29 for a game that could go a long way to deciding the title.

SportTimes understands Smith will NOT be appealing the ban and will sit in the directors' box as his side tackle Gordon Strachan's men.

Referee Craig Thomson's report will arrive at Hampden Park today, explaining why he sent the Ibrox boss to the stand after a furious exchange with his Hibs opposite number, Mixu Paatelainen.

An Ibrox source revealed: "Walter won't be appealing the ban. Even although it is an Old Firm game he'll leave Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall in charge.

"He only pops down two or three times a game, so it's not going to be a major issue. It would have been more of a problem had he been banned from the CIS League Cup Final with Dundee United at Hampden Park.

"But the fact one of the two matches he'll miss will be against Celtic won't make him appeal the ban."

Of more concern to Smith are his striking problems as he prepares for two of the most vital matches in Rangers' season.

He could be missing his three preferred options for the lone striker's role ahead of Thursday's Uefa Cup showdown with Werder Bremen. And he has an even bigger headache ahead of Sunday's Final with Dundee United.

Daniel Cousin will miss both encounters with a broken jaw that will keep him out for several weeks.

Jean-Claude Darcheville, on his way back from a hamstring injury, is still not 100%.

Lee McCulloch has suffered a recurrence of the thigh strain that has kept him out recently.

Smith might have to go with Kris Boyd up front on his own in Germany.

For Sunday, Nacho Novo is banned after being sent off yesterday for serious foul play and Steven Naismith is ineligible because he played for Kilmarnock.

Charlie Adam is also suspended and Amdy Fahe is missing with an ankle injury.

Smith admitted: "We'll just have to wait and see how some of the guys get on during the next two or three days.

"I'm not looking any farther ahead than Thursday, so I'm not concentrating on the Cup Final until after Werder Bremen."

The Germans have conceded defeat in their title race after their 6-3 defeat away to VfB Stuttgart left them seven points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

"When you concede six goals you don't have the right to talk about the title," general manager Klaus Allofs said.

""You can only be the champions when you know how to be clever. We're now setting our sights on qualifying for the Champions League."