Rangers trip to Tynecastle on Sunday comes heavy with narrative.
Hearts sit top of the Premiership, nine points clear of Danny Röhl’s side - albeit with Rangers holding a game in hand.
They also inflicted Rangers only league defeat this season, a 2–0 win at Ibrox under the now-sacked Russell Martin.
Yet Röhl is refusing to frame Sunday as anything more than the next step.
“That’s the word - if,” Röhl said when asked about the title implications.
“At the moment, no. It’s about recovery.”
His message has been consistent: Rangers are building momentum, not chasing hypotheticals.
“I spoke about small steps,” he added.
“We make steps.”
Those steps are tangible. Rangers are unbeaten in the league under Röhl and have now recorded five clean sheets.
Six wins from the last eight league games underline quiet progress.
“We missed the three points in Dundee,” Röhl admitted.
“But we know what this weekend means.”
Even so, he was clear about perspective.
He said: “We will not decide the league this weekend.
“I think this is important to understand.”
Derek McInnes’s Hearts, however, present a formidable test.
They have been consistent rather than spectacular, punishing errors and controlling moments - precisely the areas Röhl has highlighted as decisive.
Röhl knows Rangers must improve their ruthlessness.
“If we use the open spaces from the opponent to kill them,” he said.
“then I can relax a little bit more on the touchline.”
Squad challenges remain. Injuries persist, and Nasser Djiga’s impending departure for the African Cup of Nations with Burkina Faso will force another defensive reshuffle.
“He goes now to the African Cup,” Röhl confirmed.
“That means again I have to change my last line.”
The Rangers boss was able to hand first minutes of the season to French defender Clinton Nsiala – who replaced the returning Dujon Sterling in the second half.
The former AC Milan youngster had been frozen out under Martin earlier in the campaign but was returned to the first team under the new boss.
Yet adaptability has become a feature of Röhl’s tenure rather than a weakness.
“It’s every week or every three days a new decision,” he said.
“But it’s what it is.”
What matters most is belief - not bravado, but controlled confidence.
“We will go there,” Röhl said.
“We will try everything to take the next points, to continue unbeaten.”
The trip to Tynecastle is a chance to measure Rangers progress against the league leaders, not to define a season.
Röhl’s message remains grounded.
“It’s not about because we play nice football,” he said.
“It’s about effort.”
Against Hearts, effort alone may not be enough - but without it, Rangers have no chance at all.