Kenny Miller doesn’t need anyone to tell him how difficult a day it was for Rangers on February 1 last year.

On a gruelling afternoon at the national stadium, the Ibrox forward spent much of his time chasing shadows and lost causes as Celtic ran their Old Firm rivals ragged in the League Cup semi-final.

It was a miss-match of a tie that not only saw the Parkhead club record a 2-0 victory, but it was garnered with so much conviction that Craig Gordon’s goal didn’t even have a single shot peppered at it in anger.

READ MORE: Rangers 4 Peterhead 0: Gers stroll to Petrofac Cup glory

Oh what a difference 14 months can make.

The feeling of despondency as the Rangers support trudged out of Hampden that day is a far cry to the buoyant mood that saw 47,000 of them sing, dance and bounce their way out of the place yesterday.

Fresh from a Championship win and now a Petrofac Training Cup crown, Miller and Co are eagerly champing at the bit to have another go at Celtic team they would have been glad to see the back of a year ago.

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For Miller, who netted Rangers’ fourth in the 4-0 victory over Peterhead yesterday, he has been encouraged by the progress made by his team under Mark Warburton this season.

And even though he knows bringing down the Premiership league leaders will be a far tougher test than anything he and his team-mates have faced this season, the message to Celtic from the veteran forward is clear - we can hurt you.

“We are as ready as we can be,” said Miller. “We always said we would start looking forward to the game once the Petrofac Cup Final was over. We said that when the draw was made.

READ MORE: Rangers 4 Peterhead 0: Gers stroll to Petrofac Cup glory

“It’s upon us now and the preparations start. We are back Tuesday morning and looking ahead to see how we can hurt them – and how they could possibly hurt us and hopefully nullify that.

“But if we turn up we know we are a match for them. We know we can beat anyone if we turn up and do what we do. Celtic will be a big step up because they are top of the league and probably going to win it – and that makes them the best team in the country.

“We play a level below so it’s hard to judge. They play a higher level of opposition every week and that’s not disrespectful. It’s just a fact.

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“We are going to have to make a step up – but we are capable of doing that.”

It is hard to imagine that the confidence in the Rangers camp has been higher during their four-year spell in the lower leagues than it is right now.

Only five days had elapsed since they got over the Championship finishing line against Dumbarton at Ibrox before the next obstacle in their pursuit of bumper trophy haul was in front of them.

While the margin of victory over Jim McInally’s Peterhead may have been relatively tight until the closing minutes, this was a match Rangers strolled through with the boldest of swaggers.

READ MORE: Rangers 4 Peterhead 0: Gers stroll to Petrofac Cup glory

With the performances of Andy Halliday, Barrie McKay and James Tavernier the clear highlights, the Ibrox club showed a punch and creativity that has perhaps been lacking in recent weeks, while the added boost of a second clean sheet in a row was also welcomed ahead of a meeting with Leigh Griffiths in a few days’ time.

“We won the game, won it convincingly," said Miller. "Peterhead made it tough for us in spells and our goals came at good times as well. But we knew the game would open up and they would throw bodies forward. I’ve been on the other end of it where teams are keeping the ball. It’s a lot harder work chasing it than keeping possession. So we knew the openings would come and we got our rewards. Fortunately for me I sneaked a wee goal at the end.

“People might say it’s not the highest up our list of priorities. But what would you guys have said if we had not won it? It becomes just as important as any other game in any other competition we are playing in.

“Ten months ago when the manager arrived and we were playing Hibs we said we wanted to win this competition. It’s great to be here and win it and send that number of fans home happy. They deserve it."

READ MORE: Rangers 4 Peterhead 0: Gers stroll to Petrofac Cup glory

The dust will have barely settled on the patchy Hampden surface before more work gets underway on it today.

The much-talked about pitch is to be relaid after much criticism in recent weeks to provide the best turf possible for Sunday’s big Old Firm clash.

Miller is not completely convinced it is the best idea given the timescales, but the Rangers forward is hopeful he and his team-mates will see an improvement by next Sunday.

“Could it be better? Of course it could,” he said. “There’s no getting away from it. But was it the worst it’s been? Probably not. There’s no doubt the national stadium should be at a better level.

“Is it a concern when you lay a pitch this late before a game? Well I’m not a gardener but you would think it would take time to knit and bed in. Ideally you would like more time for that but we will deal with it. But if they are relaying it they must think that will make it better.

“Hopefully that’s the case.”

READ MORE: Rangers 4 Peterhead 0: Gers stroll to Petrofac Cup glory