YES says MATTHEW LINDSAY

YES says MATTHEW LINDSAY

THERE is no guarantee that Rangers will sew up their second piece of silverware this season against Raith Rovers.

Ally McCoist is missing several first-team regulars including Ian Black, Nicky Law, Andy Little, Lewis Macleod and David Templeton, while Jon Daly is a doubt.

And his side has not been performing convincingly against part-time opposition in recent weeks.

Overcoming Championship opponents who knocked Hibs out of the Scottish Cup at Easter Road earlier this season through in the capital will, then, be far from straightforward.

But the players who will come in to replace the walking wounded - the likes of Calum Gallagher, Kyle Hutton, Dean Shiels - are all decent pros.

Rangers have been criticised for having such a big squad. But the demands on them to win are massive. Their strength in depth should help them to cope with an occasion like this.

MUST DO BETTER says JOHN McGILL

IF Rangers struggle to overcome part-time opponents then there is no certainty they will get the better of Raith Rovers.

The Stark's Park club have done extremely well in the cup competitions this season and defeated Hibernian 3-2 in the Scottish Cup at Easter Road back in February.

If Ally McCoist's men perform like they have done in recent weeks - and, remember, they failed to beat Albion Rovers at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup - they may get a fright.

The injury list McCoist has to contend with does not help. Players like Ian Black, Jon Daly, Nicky Law, Andy Little and David Templeton could all be missing. Whichever fringe player gets the nod to start, the likes of, say, Arnold Peralta, Kyle Hutton and Dean Shiels, must produce the goods if the Glasgow club is to prevail.

They must, individually and collectively, play better than they have in the second half of the 2013/14 campaign.