RANGERS caretaker boss Kenny McDowall today urged fired-up supporters to behave ahead of the powderkeg League Cup semi-final clash with Celtic this weekend.

McDowall admitted he was looking forward to his side's massive showdown with the Hoops at Hampden on Sunday - and insisted his side CAN triumph.

But he knows that passions are running high among both sets of fans in what is the first meeting of the age-old Glasgow rivals in nearly three years.

The former Partick Thistle and St. Mirren player revealed that police representatives had spoken to his players during a break in training at Murray Park this week.

And he expressed hope the game, which will be beamed live around the world, is remembered for the quality of play on the park and not unsavoury incidents off it.

He said: "For me, I just hope the football comes out on top and there's nothing on the outside that tarnishes it.

"It's been a long time coming and we need to make sure football is the winner.

"It's important that everyone keeps a lid on it and remembers football is the important bit.

"We should be talking about the players and the game after it and not anything untoward.

"We've waited nearly three years - so I expect that people in Pluto will be watching it!

"The most important thing is the game. Hopefully it will be a great spectacle and we come out on top.

"The police have been to our place and Celtic Park as well and spoke to the players and told them the job they have to do and what they aren't allowed to do. I was in the meeting. We get the warning."

Meanwhile, McDowall has dismissed fears that his side's lack of competitive football will put them at a disadvantage to Celtic this weekend.

Rangers have had their SPFL Championship matches against Hearts at home and Cowdenbeath away abandoned and postponed respectively in the last fortnight due to the winter weather.

The last league game the Light Blues played was against Alloa away at the Indodrill Stadium way back on January 10 - nearly three weeks ago.

Their opponents, meanwhile, won two Premiership games against Motherwell and Ross County last week to move three points clear in the top flight table.

But McDowall said: "At this stage of the season they are as fit as they're going to be.

"We've had a couple of hard sessions as well. We came back to Murray Park on Saturday when the game got cancelled and we started at half-two so we did a fair session on Saturday afternoon. They have worked hard. They'll be fine.

"Obviously Celtic are big favourites for this one. It would be a great achievement if we could win it.

"It would be be a big victory. But we have every chance. We know Celtic are favourites, but we're not writing ourselves off."