ALLY McCoist believes the League Cup showdown with Inverness Caledonian Thistle is the hardest fixture Rangers could face just now.

The high-flying Highlanders crashed to their first defeat this season when they lost 3-1 to Partick Thistle at Firhill on Saturday.

But McCoist has still been greatly impressed with how John Hughes's side has performed in the SPFL Premiership. Caley Thistle are level on points with Hamilton Accies and defending champions Celtic - who they beat 1-0 at home last month.

And the Gers manager feels the game is the most demanding his side could have been handed at this moment in time.

He said: "Despite the result at the weekend, Inverness are still one of the in-form teams in the country at the moment. And it is easy to see why. They have got excellent players in the likes of Graeme Shinnie and Billy McKay.

"However, their biggest asset is that they work together as a team. Big Yogi has done extremely well up there.

"Sure, he likes his team to play football and they certainly do that. But they are a big strong team.

"They are an excellent side and do not shy away from the physical aspect of the game either."

McCoist added: "I watched their game against Celtic and while their opponents had a couple of chances so did they.

"Their work ethic is impressive. They press high up the park and I think they will do that when they play us at Ibrox.

"They are near the top of the table for a reason. They are as difficult an opposition as we could face."

Rangers have played top-flight opposition four times since dropping down to the bottom tier of Scottish football two years ago. They have won just once - against Motherwell in the League Cup at Ibrox two seasons ago - and lost three times.

They were beaten 3-0 by Inverness in the League Cup - and have lost twice to Dundee United in the Scottish Cup. However, McCoist has strengthened his Light Blues squad considerably since the last meeting with Caley Thistle. And he is confident his side can match up against Premiership rivals.

McCoist said: "I have always included us in the big group, outwith Celtic, who fancy themselves for a run in the cups.

"We have got about as difficult a cup tie as we could have wished for this week, but that hasn't changed.

"It would be great for the club to beat opponents who are doing so well in the top division. It would give everyone at the club a huge lift. To beat a team that is so well placed in the top league would give everybody here a boost.

"That is ultimately where we want to be playing our football so it would bolster our self- belief. We've a better squad and better team than we had the last time that we played Inverness.

"There is still a long way to go, but we are in a far better place now in football terms than we were two seasons ago.

"Having said that, we are still nowhere near where we used to be or need to be. But it would be a step in the right direction."