Rangers star Darren McGregor not giving up on promotion dream

The Gers are on a miserable run of just one win in nine, while Hibs have won seven in a row and are unbeaten in 15.

But boyhood Hibs fan McGregor reckons Rangers can surprise everyone by digging out a victory which he feels can be the catalyst for a Premiership return through the play-offs.

He said: “It’s weighted heavily in Hibs’ favour, but with our new gaffer coming in and freshening things up we know we can go in from a positive side of it and win the game, go on to recapture second place then go up via the play-offs.

“Right now I’m looking at the last nine games as a sort of mini-league in itself. And we know a win can change that. The negative side of it is that we are going into it on the back of a bad run and Hibs are  going into it on the back of a really good run.

“We’ve been well off it and we’re well aware of that. It can be hard to accept at times when you look at yourself in the mirror and say that you’ve not been good enough. 

“We can still rectify the situation by getting up but that’s going to be a hard ask.

“The pessimist will say we’ve won one in nine and the recent form doesn’t suggest anything other than dropping further down the league.

“And although it looks unlikely on current form, I truly believe we can win at Easter Road.”

Former Hibs attacker Dean Shiels is set to keep his place after being brought in from the cold in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Alloa.

However, boss Stuart McCall will make changes to the side as he tries to assess everyone in a match situation.

He said: “Dean did well the other night but everyone is in the same boat – when you get an opportunity you have to grab it.

“We have nine games left to get ourselves into the play-offs and to go into them with momentum and in a confident mood.

“If we can keep improving the way we did between the Livingston and Alloa games then we will be all right.”       

Hibs have lost just one of their last 20 matches and could move nine points ahead of Rangers today, having already registered three wins against them this term.