ANDY MURDOCH today claimed playing in the Premiership play-off quarter-finals could increase Rangers' chances of winning promotion.

Murdoch and his Gers team-mates failed to secure second spot in the Championship table at the weekend.

The Ibrox club was, despite storming into a 2-0 first-half lead, held to a 2-2 draw by second-tier champions Hearts at Tynecastle.

That result, though, proved irrelevant as Hibs thrashed Falkirk 3-0 to finish as runners-up and book a place in the semi-finals.

But Murdoch, who has established himself as a first-team regular since being handed a start by Kenny McDowall, was encouraged by the display in Gorgie.

And he believes that going 18 DAYS without a match could count against the Easter Road club.

Alan Stubbs' side will not be in action again until Wednesday, May 20, when they take on the quarter-final winners away from home.

Asked if Hibs would benefit from having a rest, Murdoch replied: "I don't think it matters. If we can win the two games coming up then we'll have plenty of momentum going into the next round.

"Everyone has had a decent season, so it is difficult to say who will do well, but I certainly think that we can do it.

"Hibs will be thinking the same, as will Queen of the South, so it will be a good competition. There is a lot of quality in the squad, so we should have enough to get through the play-offs."

The 20-year-old is confident Rangers can overcome Queen of the South at Palmerston Park - despite crashing to two defeats there this season.

He said: "Queen of the South are a good counter-attacking team and we've had a few difficult games against them. We need to take our first-half performance against Hearts, which was really good, and apply that this Saturday.

"We've got to look forward to hopefully a few more games and to getting some good results.

"It's a decent Astroturf pitch. We've just gone there and been unable to get a good result. We need to switch on and do well.

"We just need to take it one game at a time. It will be difficult, but hopefully we can get a good result at Palmerston and push on."