SECOND is the first loser.

It will still feel like a triumph of sorts for Rangers, though.

For a club so accustomed to winning, with a trophy room the envy of many around the world, achieving a runners-up spot is not the norm, nor is it accepted.

This time it is different. It has been a season like no other, on or off the park, for Rangers and, win, lose or draw, it won't end this afternoon at Tynecastle.

The result could determine how many more matches Stuart McCall's side will have to play this term, and what their chances of emerging through the play-offs are.

If everything goes to plan for the Light Blues, they will end the campaign second, albeit a distant one, behind Hearts and will avoid the first round of play-off matches against Queen of the South.

It will allow them to then focus on a meeting with the Doonhamers or Hibernian, whom they must then overcome to earn a shot at the side that finishes eleventh in the Premiership.

By the end of the month, there may well be reasons for handshakes and pats on the back at Ibrox but keeper Cammy Bell knows there can be no premature joy if their efforts are rewarded this afternoon.

"Whether we win or lose on Saturday, for me we're not going to be celebrating anyway and if we finish second or third we still won't be celebrating," he said.

"The only celebrating we'll be doing is if and when we get promoted. That's what we look forward to, the celebration of the day we're back in the top league.

"Saturday is a big day for us, we want momentum to go into these games but it's not a day of celebration for us, we'll still be focused.

"It'll be another week for us training and working hard towards whether we play Queen of the South or Hibs the following week.

"We've just got to focus on getting that last spot on May 31 and trying to get promoted into the top league."

The fact that there is a live issue surrounding the Tynecastle clash this afternoon is no surprise, but it highlights how poor Rangers have been this term that is the fight for second and not the title race they are involved in.

After easing to the Third Division and League One crowns in the last two seasons, the past few months have proven considerably more fraught for Rangers.

They can still achieve their main goal and clinch a top-flight berth for next season but the manner in which they have gone about it has infuriated fans.

"I expected the club to go up, but it was never going to be plain sailing," Bell said.

"It was always going to be difficult with the teams that have been in this league. We have made it hard for ourselves this season, everyone will agree with that.

"But we are at the business end of the season and still have a chance to go up. It is in our own hands still. We know we might need to play a few more games, but that is fine.

"They are going to be really difficult games, but if we are on top of our game then I am sure we will give anybody a game in this league."

If Rangers are to move a step closer to promotion without first having to face Queens or Hibs over two legs, they will require a favour from fifth-placed Falkirk this afternoon.

A victory for Alan Stubbs' side at Westfield will be enough to clinch second spot no matter what Rangers achieve in Gorgie.

But the Light Blues can't afford to be casting their eye elsewhere as they focus on the job in hand and bid for their second win of season over the second tier champions.

"They will be focused on trying to win the game and finish their season on a high," Bell said.

"But, equally, we it is important for us to go and win three points and keep the pressure on Hibs.

"But, as I say, it's not the be all and end all. I think it's really important for us to play well more than anything on Saturday to take good momentum going into the play-offs whether it is Queen of the South or Hibs we face in the next game.

"I think it's vitally important that we put a good performance on and we carry on from there and see where we're at after the game."

Having rescued Rangers' season and sparked life into their promotion bid, boss McCall is now looking to complete the job and guide his side into the top flight.

The turnaround in fortunes has been significant since the nine-in-a-row hero replaced Kenny McDowall and Bell hopes there will be plenty more matches to put the McCall master plan to good use.

He said: "He has worked us hard and brought his ideas to us and the players are buying into it just now.

"It takes time for things to fall in place, but I think we have still got a great chance of going up this season. We know what we have got to do.

"If it is six matches we need to play then that is fine we just need to try and go and get results in those six matches and make sure we get up to the next league."