STEVEN GERRARD has challenged Rangers to 'raise the bar' on the continent once again this season as he sets his sights on a place in the Champions League group stages.

Rangers have enjoyed a remarkable rise and rise in the Europa League over the last three years as they have banished the memories of the defeat to Progres and become a force to be reckoned with under Gerrard's guidance.

The champions have qualified for the groups in three successive seasons and reached the last 16 before losing to Bayer Leverkusen and Slavia Prague respectively in back-to-back campaigns.

A trip to Malmo awaits next Tuesday as Rangers look to take a positive result into the return leg at Ibrox and book their place in the play-off round next month.

And Gerrard is well aware of the importance of another sustained European run as Rangers get set to begin the defence of their Premiership title against Livingston this weekend.

"Very big obstacles," Gerrard told ESPN. "The Champions League is obviously a level up from the Europa League, so we have to be ready for that.

"It's going to be a tough challenge to get into that final round of qualifying, but for me, with experience you always worry about what is front of you, so the focus is very much on trying to overcome Malmo.

"It's been a case of us trying to grow as a group from a European point of view. Obviously, there was a major setback here before I joined the club in terms of qualification, but the club needs Europe financially and the fans also expect the team to deliver in Europe.

"We've had three really exciting journeys in Europe over the last three seasons, twice reaching the Europa League last 16, but it's all about raising the bar and trying to go that one or two steps further."