ALLY McCOIST believes the pre-season tour of the Highlands has given Rangers the perfect start in their build-up to the SPFL Championship.

McCoist took his Light Blues players away to Sutherland last week for training and two friendly matches against Buckie Thistle and Brora Rangers.

Despite failing to beat Highland League champions Brora on Sunday, the Gers manager was pleased with how his squad performed in both ties.

And the Ibrox boss, who is hoping to secure Marius Zaliukas this week, is looking forward to the tour of Canada and the United States.

He said: "The games we had were decent tests. But that was one of the reasons we travelled to the Highlands. We wanted a challenge early in pre-season.

"Brora had a great season last season and gave us a good game on Sunday.

"But the exercise will stand us in good stead for the campaign that is ahead of us."

McCoist, who is also hoping to lure Scotland international Don Cowie to Rangers, believes Zaliukas will bring invaluable experience to his squad.

And he feels Rangers will need seasoned professionals if they are to successfully negotiate a second tier that will include Hearts and Hibs in the 2014/15 campaign.

He said: "Everyone in Scottish football is really interested in the Championship with Hibs joining Hearts and ourselves in it. lot of people are really excited.

"I think the standard will be good outside the three clubs I mentioned. Raith Rovers beat us in the Challenge Cup final so we know all about the stands.

"There are a lot of good teams in the league. I think it will be a good league. I don't think there is the same expectancy on us in the league next season as there has been in the last two seasons."

McCoist has signed Kris Boyd, who netted a late equaliser on his comeback against Brora at the weekend, as well as Darren McGregor and Kenny Miller.

But he would like to add more new faces to his squad and is hopeful former Hearts captain and Lithuanian international Zaliukas will agree a deal.

He said: "I am still looking to strengthen the squad.

"We have already strengthened with the players that we have brought in. But we need to continue that.

"I would like to get another defender in and Marius has come in to train with us. I have always liked him as a player and we will see if we can bring him in.

"He looked fine in training last week. We liked the look of him, but we wanted to get a look at him in a game. We will sit down and try to get something done.

"Marius can look after himself. We obviously want to play good football, but we need boys who can handle themselves and handle the physical aspect of the game when we step up a division."