ALLY McCOIST is confident he will avoid a defensive injury crisis ahead of Rangers' top-of-the-table clash with Hearts on Saturday.

The Light Blues boss was without left-back Lee Wallace for the 1-1 draw with Alloa at the weekend and now deputy Steven Smith has a calf problem.

Richard Foster could switch flanks from his natural right-back berth, but he is also struggling for fitness after being forced off in the second half of the Wasps clash.

Rangers head to Tynecastle six points off the pace in the Championship, knowing they can ill-afford to fall further behind the Jambos.

Murray Park kids Ryan Sinnamon and Ross McCrorie could have to step into the first team if Wallace, Smith and Foster don't recover quickly enough, but McCoist is pleased with the progress his crocked stars are making ahead of the Gorgie showdown.

"We've got a few people in the treatment room at the moment seeing the physio, including Smudger and Richard," he told rangers.co.uk.

"Stevie Walker is quite pleased with them though.

"That might sound like a contradiction in terms, but he doesn't think their injuries are too serious.

"We are hopeful Lee will be available for the weekend. It's still early in the week,but I'd say the news on our problems there is more promising than not.

"Hopefully it'll keep easing because having both our left-backs out would be a problem, particularly when Richard might be out as well and can play there.

"It's too early to make assumptions on who will be fit but at this stage I'd remain very positive we will have a good squad to pick from."