NICKY CLARK is confident Rangers can rise to the occasion once again and see off title rivals Hibernian on Sunday.

The Light Blues made it five wins from five games under new boss Mark Warburton with a 2-0 triumph over Ayr United in the Petrofac Training Cup on Wednesday night.

Clark made the most of his chance to impress as he opened the scoring at Somerset Park before Barrie McKay wrapped up the win and booked the Gers’ place in the quarter-finals.

Rangers’ sights are now firmly fixed on a crunch Championship clash with Hibernian at Ibrox on Sunday as they look to move six points clear of Alan Stubbs’ side in the standings.

The Gers were 6-2 winners at Easter Road on the opening day of the campaign and Clark is confident they can record another success on home soil.

He said: “First and foremost we had to win [on Wednesday night] and now we will concentrate on Hibs on Sunday.

“I think it will be different, every game is different. Hibs will want to come and get a good result against us at Ibrox.

“But we will get a few good training sessions in before then and make sure that we are ready to do the job.

“I am sure they will be [hurting from the 6-2 game] but we just need to concentrate on our side and make sure that we are ready for it.

“It is a massive game for us and it would be great to go and win it. But we know Hibs will come and make it hard for us and they will be desperate to win it as well.

“The gaffer will make sure we are ready for it and we will take the game as it comes.”

Rangers will head into the Hibs showdown in fine form and high in confidence after a superb start to the campaign that has seen them hit the goal trail and turn on the style.

The Ibrox crowd have bought into the Warburton way as they have been impressed with the approach of the new look Light Blues.

And Clark is confident the Gers will only get better as they set their sights on a successful season.

He said: “Right from the start when the gaffer came in, he laid down the way he wanted to play and I think everybody bought into it right from the start.

“You can see that in the way we play and it is down to the players now to make sure we continue to do the things that we are doing.

“We have hit the ground running but it is a long season and we need to make sure we stay on top of our game. The gaffer and Davie (Weir) won’t let us slack.

“It is a great start to the season but there is no point doing that if we don’t carry it on for the rest of the season.

“I think there will be [more to come]. It is early in the season, we are getting to know each other.

“At the end of the day, it is Glasgow Rangers and you are expected to win every game.

“We know that as players and we will go out to win every game, no matter where it is or what competition it is in.

“It is down to us to make sure we stay on top of our game and win each game as it comes.”