FRASER AIRD is determined to impress his boss and his family when Rangers jet out to North America.

Ally McCoist's side will head Stateside today as they prepare for a four-game tour that will see them play Ventura County Fusion, Sacramento Republic, Victoria Highlanders and Ottawa Fury as they gear up for the new Championship campaign.

The final fixture against the Fury is the closest to Aird's Toronto family home and the Canadian kids hopes a return to familiar surroundings will allow him to clinch a place in the Light Blue starting line-up this term.

"I think the games in America just outside LA then against Sacramento Republic FC will be good tests for us," he told rangers.co.uk

"Americans are always good athletes and they will give us a good game. They will be used to the weather there a bit more than we are too.

"The game in Victoria will be useful too and then there's the match in Ottawa, where I'm expecting a lot of Canadian Rangers supporters will be coming to watch.

"My family will be going to that one so I would be delighted if I can get some game time in that particular fixture and put on a good performance.

"It will be the first time they will get to see me playing for Rangers in Canada so it will be exciting for us all.

"I'm trying to get my fitness up right now and doing everything to keep myself in the gaffer's plans going forward."