Seeking to close the gap to rivals Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership, Rangers make the trip to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock on Wednesday night.
The two teams endured contrasting results in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals over the weekend, with the Gers edging past Aberdeen and Killie losing out to Celtic.
Match preview
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Kilmarnock are yet to win or score in 2023, with a goalless draw at home against St Mirren followed by back-to-back 2-0 defeats against Celtic in two different competitions.
An Ash Taylor own goal gifted the Hoops a routine win in the Premiership on January 7, before strikes either side of half time from Daizen Maeda and Giorgos Giakoumakis ended Killie's hopes of reaching their first League Cup final since winning the competition in 2011-12.
Derek McInnes was left furious with refereeing decisions after their semi-final battle with Celtic, but he and his Kilmarnock side must now dust themselves down ahead of another challenging fixture against title-chasing Rangers on Wednesday.
It is fair to say Kilmarnock have preferred playing on home soil so far this season, as they have picked up 18 of their 20 Premiership points at Rugby Park. The East Ayrshire side have also lost only one of their last eight home league matches – including five victories during this run – heading into Wednesday's fixture.
However, Kilmarnock – who sit just three points above basement club Ross County – have lost six of their last seven meetings against Rangers, including a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox in August in which they failed to register a single shot on target.
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For just the second time in 12 years, Rangers have progressed to the Scottish League Cup final after securing a comeback 2-1 victory in extra time against Aberdeen in a thrilling semi-final on Sunday.
Aberdeen were in front for the first hour of the contest courtesy of a 41st-minute strike from Bojan Miovski, but former Dons midfielder Ryan Jack restored parity before Anthony Stewart was sent off in stoppage time.
Substitute Kemar Roofe ultimately had the last laugh as he came on to net the winner just four minutes into extra time to help Michael Beale's side set up a final with rivals Celtic on February 26.
Before that Glaswegian showdown at Hampden Park, Rangers have seven fixtures across the Premiership and Scottish Cup to prepare for, including Wednesday's encounter with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park where they have lost four of their last six visits.
However, Rangers have won 17 of their last 18 Premiership matches against promoted sides, while they have won six and drawn one of their seven games since Beale took the reins last month, so confidence is high heading to East Ayrshire.
Prior to Beale's appointment, the Gers dropped a total of nine points under Giovanni van Bronckhorst this season, and nine points is in fact the gap that currently separates them from league leaders Celtic after 21 matches played.
Team News
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Kilmarnock defender Jeriel Dorsett and forward Innes Cameron, who have not featured since December 12, remain sidelined with injuries.
Former Rangers man Kyle Lafferty started his first game for Killie last weekend after serving a 10-game suspension for using sectarian language, and the striker is expected to retain his place in the first XI alongside January signing Kyle Vassell.
McInnes, is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, with a back three of Taylor, Lewis Mayo and Joe Wright set to protect goalkeeper Sam Walker, while Danny Armstrong and Ben Chrisene provide the width either side of midfield trio Liam Donnelly, Alan Power and Rory McKenzie.
As for Rangers, Roofe suffered an injury setback on his return to first-team action last weekend as he was forced off in extra time with a shoulder problem.
The Gers striker will now join Steven Davis, Tom Lawrence, John Souttar, Filip Helander, Ridvan Yilmaz, Ianis Hagi and Nnamdi Ofoborh on the sidelines.
Antonio Colak missed the cup win over Aberdeen due to a "slight issue" and is a doubt for Wednesday, so Alfredo Morelos could keep his place up front.
Fashion Sakala, Malik Tillman and Ryan Kent could all support Morelos in attack, while Glen Kamara will be pushing to start ahead of either Jack or John Lundstram in centre-midfield.
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
Walker; Mayo, Taylor, Wright; Armstrong, Donnelly, Power, McKenzie, Chrisene; Vassell, Lafferty
Rangers possible starting lineup:
McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic; Kamara, Jack; Sakala, Tillman, Kent; Morelos
We say: Kilmarnock 0-2 Rangers
Kilmarnock have performed much better on home soil so far this term and they will fancy their chances of causing an upset on Wednesday.
However, Rangers head to Rugby Park as favourites despite their recent record in East Ayrshire, and they should have enough quality in their side to secure a routine victory.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
