Rangers take on Motherwell this Sunday at Ibrox in a crucial clash as the Premiership title run in picks up pace.
It is the first of five post-split fixtures for Danny Rohl’s side.
The German describes them as “five cup finals,” in which, if Rangers are victorious across the board, they will be champions.
First up however, is a home test against Jens Berthel Askou’s fourth-placed Steelmen.
They are without a win in five.
Now with Hibs on their coattails, they will be looking to rediscover their form ahead of the run-in.
Rangers’ injury woes
Rohl confirmed Rangers will need to combat Motherwell without both Tuur Rommens and Ryan Naderi.
“For the weekend, they are not available,” Rohl admitted.
“But I must really say, it looks very positive for the next four games after.”
He said he hopes Rommens will return for their next match, an away game with league leaders Hearts.
While he remains confident Naderi will appear again before the end of the campaign.
The James Tavernier question
Jack Butland remains fit and will continue in his usual spot between the Ibrox goalposts.
Right back remains a disputable area.
James Tavernier, who announced during the week that he will depart Rangers after over a decade of service this summer.
He started in their previous match with Falkirk but looked shaky and conceded a soft penalty kick against the Bairns.
Dujon Sterling, Rohl’s preferred starter in recent weeks, was not risked on the plastic pitch but should return for this content.
Rohl did say “Tav leads us in the final five games with his experience.”
However, he did not clarify whether this would necessarily be from on the park or not.”
Sterling is expected to return to the first XI, with Jack Butland taking the captains armband.
The backline
The central defensive pairing of Nasser Djiga and Manny Fernandez will also continue.
This means that vice-captain John Souttar is expected to continue on the bench.
Rohl said the newly capped Nigerian international had “developed very quick” over his first season in Scotland and was hopeful he could convince him to stay next season as first-choice defender.
With Rommens out Jayden Meghoma should continue at left back, despite Max Aarons cameo at Falkirk after the Brentford loanee was substituted off.
Battling Motherwell in midfield
The Ibrox boss praised his opponents midfield.
“They create always chances. They are on front foot. They have a lot of rotations in possession,” he said of Motherwell.
“They play with calmness, with bravery. You see also that they have some really critical ball-losing situations in some areas where we can hurt them as they can dominate games.”
Based off this we would expect a combative midfield duo of Nico Raskin and Connor Barron to start in the middle.
Tochi Chukwuani scored against John McGlynn’s side but struggled in the first half as Rangers fell two behind before his goal.
They would, of course, eventually come back and win the match 6-3.
Attacking options
With Mikey Moore now back following a recent knock, we would expect him to start on the left, with Djeidi Gassama returning to the right wing, despite looking more dangerous on the left.
Following both Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti hitting doubles at the Falkirk Stadium, the boss looks set to try both fit strikers in attack this Sunday.
However, if he wishes to have a striker in reserve on the bench, he may place Thelo Aasgaard in the number ten role behind Chermiti.
Predicted Rangers starting XI: Butland; Sterling, Djiga, Fernandez, Meghoma; Gassama, Raskin, Barron, Moore; Miovski, Chermiti.
