WALTER SMITH reckons Rangers will make a statement of their Premiership intentions with victory over Hibernian at Hampden this weekend.

Mark Warburton’s side will bid for their third medal of the campaign at the National Stadium as sights are set on Scottish Cup glory.

It has been a season to remember for the Light Blues as they have clinched the Championship crown and lifted the Petrofac Training Cup, but victory over Alan Stubbs’ side would top the lot and be their biggest achievement this term.

And former Ibrox boss Smith hopes Rangers can take another significant step on the road to recovery as they look to lift the silverware for the first time in seven years.

He said: “I am really looking forward to the game. It’s always really interesting to come back and see how the club have been doing.

“When I left, the staff that I had took over and everyone knows the circumstances the team have been in.

“So Mark has been charged with the responsibility of taking the team out of a period of time where the club didn’t have their best spell for a massive number of reasons.

“That gets put aside now, and Mark has taken on the responsibility, as have those others who are now in charge of the club.

“We have had a great season getting out of the Championship and into the Premiership again, but the Cup Final throws up something different.

“Given the period we have been through, you could never have imagined coming out of this season with a chance of getting into Europe. It would be a tremendous achievement by everyone at the club.

“Everyone still thinks we have a fair bit to go, and Mark Warburton himself will know that, but it would be a great achievement by everyone to get ourselves back into a European environment if we can win the Cup.

“Strangely enough, Hibs will feel that as well. It’s the first time in history two Championship teams have got to the final, and it’s congratulations to both clubs for getting there, but from my own point of view, I am desperate for Rangers to get that win.

“It will let everyone see that the club is not only going back into the Premiership and not only going back into Europe, but hopefully will, if Mark gets a bit of help from everyone, back to challenging Celtic again for their Championship.”

Rangers head to Hampden on the back of a poor end to their league campaign as they suffered an Old Firm hangover and took just two points from their matches with Hibernian, Alloa, Livingston and St Mirren.

The semi-final showing was the finest of the season from Warburton’s side and Smith is pleased that the Light Blue legions have had plenty to cheer this term.

“Celtic games are always vital games, and there is a lot more optimism about the club this year, so we were going into the Celtic game in an optimistic light,” he told rangers.co.uk.

“I watched the game in a Manchester hotel, and there were a group of other people there who I watched the game with that I was at a function with on the Saturday night.

“They were all Rangers supporters, and it was just great. It was a terrific performance, although maybe a little nerve-wracking going into the penalties.

“For the first time in a number of years after the doom and gloom that had been surrounding the club, we felt like Rangers Football Club again.

“Hopefully we can go a step further, and it will be a step in the right direction for Rangers again.”