Peterhead midfielder Ryan Strachan is aiming to spoil Mark Warburton’s competitive managerial debut in the home dugout when the Blue Toon travel to Rangers tomorrow.
Jim McInally’s side will renew rivalries with the Light Blues at Ibrox where they won 2-1 on their last visit two years ago.
While the trip to Govan represents a return to the scene of one of their best results since moving up from the Highland League, the venue is just about the only constant facing manager Jim McInally and his players.
Strachan knows the challenge facing his team is daunting but it is one he insists his side go into with confidence.
He said: “There’s no point trying to compare this Rangers team with the one we played a couple of years ago as it has completely changed.
“We feel we are a better team than we were a couple of years ago when we won at Ibrox and we can take confidence from the fact we have won there before, but Rangers are looking to win promotion this season back to the Premiership and they will be desperate to start the season well.
“It’s not a case of who has the better players. It’s about whether our team can cause their team problems and we pride ourselves on being hard to beat.”
The Rangers team which will host Peterhead tomorrow is unrecognisable from the side which lost to the Blue Toon in April 2013.
Lee Wallace and Chris Templeton are the only starters from the game expected to feature after new manager Warburton’s radical revamp of the playing squad.
Strachan knows the match is a step into the unknown for his side.
He said: “Some of the lads thought it might be a good time to get Rangers as they are still gelling as a team but I don’t think it is as they are all new at the club and will be motivated to impress the new manager.
“We’ve done well against them in the past and have made life difficult for them and I am sure we will do that again on Sunday.”