Danny Röhl insists Rangers are ready to embrace the challenge of a pivotal Premiership clash against Hearts at Tynecastle, but the German head coach remains determined to keep expectations grounded as his side continue their climb back into the title picture.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s meeting with the league leaders, Röhl confirmed Rangers are still managing injury concerns, with availability tight once again.
“Lyall [Cameron] got an injection yesterday, he will not be available,” Röhl revealed.
“Nasser [Djiga] is not here, he’s away with the national team.”
Bojan Miovski has been confirmed as a starter today at Tynecastle despite fitness issues.
Despite the absentees, Röhl made it clear that the scale of the occasion is one his players should relish rather than fear.
“Of course it will be a top game, everything is on,” he said.
“This is why we play football, to have such a game.”
Rangers travel to Tynecastle facing a side sitting top of the table but buoyed by an unbeaten league run since Röhl’s arrival.
While acknowledging what a win could do mathematically, Röhl was careful to frame the fixture as another step rather than a defining moment.
“We will not win the league on the weekend – this is also crucial,” he stressed.
“But to go into such a game with our run, to face a team who is at the moment top of the league, is good.
“This is the challenge we want.”
Röhl admitted the arithmetic is clear if Rangers can deliver, but consistency remains his overriding focus.
“Then we will be just six points behind them, one more game to go,” he said.
“But we know it’s still a long way to go, still a lot of games to play.
“We have to do it consistently.”
The manager expects a tight, physical contest and believes defensive discipline will be decisive.
“I think it will be a tight game, there will be not so much on,” Röhl explained.
“Both teams will fight for every inch, will put a lot of effort in.
“We need a clean sheet – this is again the basic.”
Röhl also highlighted how Rangers’ recent run has altered belief inside the dressing room.
“I think my team feel it now, you feel the confidence,” he said.
“The win on Monday was a big one for us. It was a good start in a busy schedule.”
However, he warned that momentum must be protected.
“We have to make consistently the points, otherwise you’re destroyed in all the good work,” Röhl added.
“Nobody will give us a present.”
That realism extends to his assessment of Rangers’ performance level, even during wins.
“The results are at the moment there, but this is now especially my job that we are not lazy,” he said.
“We have to be critical after wins as well.”
Röhl pinpointed areas that still require improvement.
“Against the ball we are not always compact what I want to see,” he admitted.
“With the ball we need more relationships to each other – this is a process.”
As Rangers prepare to face Hearts away from home, Röhl’s message is clear: belief is growing, confidence is returning, but progress will only continue if standards remain uncompromising.
“We believe at the moment that we find a way to take points,” he said.
“Now it’s about making the next step.”