KENNY MILLER reckons the pressure could tell on Hearts as the title race heats up this term.

The striker is set to return to action when Rangers face Raith Rovers this afternoon aiming to keep pace with their Championship rivals at the top of the table.

Ally McCoist's side are nine points adrift of the Jambos, but do have a game in hand against Cowdenbeath to come next month as they look to hit a much-needed purple patch.

Hearts have dropped just two points so far this term and have beaten Rangers and Edinburgh rivals Hibs in a stunning start.

But Miller knows it is at the business end of the campaign where the mental mettle really comes to the fore.

He said: "The longer that run goes on, the more other teams are motivated to put an end to that run.

"They might see teams raising their game more against them, like they have done against us this season.

"There are a lot of things that come into it when you are trying to win a title.

"That pressure and experience of maybe not being there might start telling, there might be injuries or suspensions to key players, who knows?

"There are a million and one things that can turn a title challenge on its head.

"We have got to focus on ourselves. We know that if we play the way we can play, we have got 28 games to go, and if we do what we can do then we will win the league. If we don't then it will be tough."

While Rangers have a manager and squad of players who know exactly what it takes to get over the line, Hearts are entering uncharted territory this term.

Boss Robbie Neilson has seen his side fly out of the traps in recent weeks and they host Dumbarton this afternoon aiming to make it 10 games without defeat.

Rangers can ill-afford to let any more points slip at this stage of the season and leave themselves playing catch-up in the coming months.

Miller won three SPL titles during his previous stint at Ibrox under Walter Smith and is confident that winning mentality will stand them in good stead.

He said: "I would rather be 15 points clear than a point behind, that is for sure.

"I don't know any of their lads really, so I don't know their attitude or mentality towards the game.

"I just think, if you are ahead by nine points, complacency can maybe creep in.

"I don't know. It could be 'we could afford to draw here' or 'we can afford to lose, we are still...'. That is a dangerous way of thinking.

"At this club, we want to win every game. It is as simple as that.

"That is the mentality that is bred into us and what we set out to do.

"We are nine points back and that doesn't sit right with us, so we are looking to put that right."