KENNY MILLER today predicted a sell-out Ibrox crowd on Thursday night can help push battle-weary Rangers to the brink of a place in the top flight in Scottish football.

Miller has flourished in front of massive attendances at the Govan ground in the SPFL Premiership play-off matches this month.

Over 48,000 fans turned up to see Stuart McCall's team draw 1-1 with Queen of the South in the second leg of the quarter-final nine days ago.

And more than 41,000 supporters were inside the stadium to roar their team on to a 2-0 win over Hibs in the first leg of the semi-final last Wednesday night.

The first leg of the final against second-bottom Premiership side Motherwell this week promises to attract even more spectators than either of those fixtures.

Rangers can finally complete "The Journey" from the bottom tier after three rollercoaster seasons if they win the double header against the Steelmen.

And excitement among the Light Blues faithful is already at fever pitch with tickets for the Ibrox match - which have once again been priced at just £5 - being snapped up in droves.

Former Scotland striker Miller, who is in his third spell at his boyhood heroes, admitted the Gers players were tired at the end of a draining campaign.

But the man who netted the all-important second goal against Hibs last week believes the backing of their followers will help them lift their games one more time.

"I don't think it is any coincidence that we have performed as well as we have with the number of fans we've had cheering us on," he said.

"The atmosphere is the Queen of the South game and the Hibs game are the best we have experienced all season.

"Apart from the league games against Hearts, they were totally unlike anything the lads have experienced all season. The place was jumping.

"There were over 40,000 fans at both games. It was just like the old Rangers for me. It definitely made a difference and gave the lads that extra edge.

"I think there was a real sense among the boys that we were going to play well and win the game for all of our fans and that is what we duly did.

"These two games are vitally important for the future of the club. We can get back to where we belong in the top division and it is great the fans are turning out in numbers.

"The boys are tired, but we are really looking forward to these two matches and there is no reason we can't do it with that sort of backing."

The games against Motherwell will be the second play-off final than man-of-many-clubs Miller has been involved in during his lengthy and successful career.

He scored for Wolves in a 3-0 win over Sheffield United in the English Championship play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff back in 2003.

That game - which saw Alex Neil's Norwich City beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at Wembley yesterday - is billed as "the richest game in football" as a place in the Premier League worth £120 million is at stake.

But Miller, who has welcomed the introduction of play-offs to the Scottish game, believes these matches against Motherwell are as big as not bigger.

"The play-offs do generate that bit of excitement at the end of the season," he said. "There are still so many teams with so much to play for.

"If you finished second or third before or second bottom then your season was done. Now that is not the case. There are some massive games in the final weeks of the season.

"In terms of my experience of the play-offs down in England I sampled both sides of it with Wolves. I managed to get promoted via the play-offs and also got knocked out at the semi-final stage.

"That was hard to take. We were in the top two the whole season. As I said, when you expect to go up and then find yourself in a play-off scenario it can be hard to take.

"But we are prepared for the play-offs and have been for some time. The final is billed as the richest game in the world and deservedly so given what is at stake for the club, the players and the manager.

"Jobs can be on the line if you fall at the final hurdle and don't get promoted. They are amazing games to be involved in and we have enjoyed being involved with them at Rangers. "

Miller added: "Obviously it is a different set-up down in England. It is just a semi-final and a final. Here we have come through a right few games to get the chance to play the Premiership team for a place in the top flight.

"But what is on the line is very similar. When Rangers started "The Journey" three years ago the objective was to get back into the top flight. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work and is huge for the club.

"I can only speak for myself, but it has been a really frustrating season for me as well as the team. The thing is, we have still got the chance to put it right.

"Hopefully we can produce the performances and get the results we require that help us get back to where we belong."