ALLY McCOIST faces some tough selection choices ahead of Rangers' Ramsdens Cup clash with Albion Rovers on Sunday.

Despite making seven signings to bolster his Ibrox ranks this summer, the Gers boss will not be able to field his first choice line-up when the Light Blues get their campaign off and running at Livingston's Energy Assets Arena.

With the champions operating under an SFA registration embargo, which will expire on September 1, McCoist is only able to field new players as trialists.

Nicky Law and Jon Daly both featured in the 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in midweek and appear to be in pole position to be handed a starting jersey against Rovers this weekend.

The restrictions could mean starting berths for the likes of keeper Scott Gallacher, Sebastien Faure and Ian Black against James Ward's side. But McCoist insists he will make the most of the situation.

He said: "It's far from ideal that we've a situation where certain players can only play in certain games and some can't play at all.

"I don't think we can play the trialists unless their registrations were in Scotland at their last clubs – but I'm not sure.

"Whatever the situation, we've trained really, really hard and we've had a good level of opposition in our pre-season games.

"I think we are ready for the big kick-off on Sunday and we're looking forward to getting our season underway."

McCoist added: "It's difficult because we have to make changes to the team because of the situation with the trialists.

"I'm led to believe we can only play guys like Nicky Law, Jon Daly and Nicky Clark, guys whose registrations were all with Scottish clubs.

"I don't think we can play any of the lads who were in other countries, but that's fine and we just need to get on with it.

"The reason that we started the team we did (against Sheffield Wednesday) and made a number of changes from the sides we fielded in our previous games was because of what's coming up."