CHRIS Hegarty today dismissed claims Rangers are home and dry in the race for the Irn-Bru Third Division title but he has urged his team-mates to remain fully focused.

Ally McCoist's team, who have a game in hand, moved nine points clear at the top of the league table at the weekend with a 6-2 win over nearest rivals Elgin City at Borough Briggs.

The Ibrox club's youngsters, who often struggled at the start of the 2012/13 campaign, appear to have found their feet in senior football away from home.

Now McCoist has a strong pool of players from which to choose from, with Emilson Cribari, Kevin Kyle, Ross Perry and Francisco Sandaza all returning to full fitness.

But Hegarty, who is hoping to get the nod to play in defence against Clyde at Ibrox this afternoon, knows how difficult it can be to get results in the fourth tier.

He remembers the embarrassing draws on the road against Peterhead, Berwick and Annan and the defeat to Stirling Albion earlier this term.

And the 20-year-old centre half has stressed he will be giving his all for his boyhood heroes until they have their hands on the silverware.

He said: "I don't think we are ever home and dry until we have won the title.

"The lads know we have got a job to do week in, week out, and I think we are going to do that between now and the end of the season.

"We know what we are coming up against every week. The main thing for us now is results. No matter how dirty it is or how messy it is, we have to get the wins in the bag.

"The games where our opponents score and make like difficult for us are probably good for the fans to watch. They are end to end. But no matter how ugly it is we just want to get results.

"We want to get the league won. But we know only too well it isn't going to be easy, away from home especially, and we have to give our all every time."

Hegarty retained his place in the Rangers starting line-up against Elgin.

And he added: "I knew with players coming back it was going to be hard for me to keep my place. But I am going to knuckle down and give 100%.