ALLY McCOIST has put Rangers on red alert for what he reckons could be their toughest game yet in SFL3 at Elgin today.

The Ibrox men can move nine points clear of Ross Jack's side with a game in hand if they win at Borough Briggs in the lunchtime start.

That would put them in a strong position to get the title firmly under their control before the halfway stage as they attempt to work back through the divisions.

But McCoist warned: "We are now going to a place where I think we will get one of our toughest tests of the season in the league.

"Elgin are second at the moment and I can see they really fancy it judging by the comments from Ross Jack, who I have a lot of time for, and the Elgin players.

"They were as disappointed as we were that the last game was cancelled a few weeks ago.

"We will be in game alright – as we were at Montrose last week."

The original clash in the Highlands was called off when Elgin sold in excess of 1000 tickets above the 4520 stadium capacity.

That breach in rules led to a £25,000 SFL fine and saw their chairman, Graham Tatters, hauled before the SFA on Thursday to be hit with a £5000 fine, £4000 of which is suspended for the rest of the season.

But McCoist said: "I have a great degree of sympathy because every away game is, in a nice way, the circus coming to town. Everyone wants to get as much for their own club as they can.

"It was a shame what happened. But we're over it and I just want Elgin to get over it now.

Dean Shiels remains out injured after missing the midweek win over Annan, but Kevin Kyle is expected to return.

Emilson Cribari and Sebastian Faure are also back in the squad after injury lay-offs and Lee Wallace is also clear to play after the club appealed his red card on Tuesday night.

McCoist, meantime, also refused to dwell on comments printed in the Montrose matchday programme last weekend which wrongly claimed Rangers were a 'new' club.

The Links Park club board apologised and the manager said: "It was just mischief-making from somebody.

"It was probably a bit embarrassing for the directors and staff who were nothing short of fantastic at the weekend welcoming us up there.

"They've apologised and it's been accepted as far as I and the club are concerned."