KENNY MILLER hopes Rangers can take an early charge in the Premiership title race by charging out of the starting blocks before the first Old Firm showdown of the campaign.
The Light Blues will begin their bid for the top flight title at home to Hamilton tomorrow afternoon in front of a sold out Ibrox crowd.
Old Firm counterparts Celtic will get their season off-and-running on Sunday when they face Hearts and the silverware rivals don’t have to wait long before the first derby day of the new term.
Rangers will face Dundee, Motherwell and Kilmarnock before making the trip across the city on September 10 and will have played a game more than the Hoops by that stage.
And Miller is determined Mark Warburton’s side will make the most of their early fixtures as they bid to snatch pole position from the off.
READ MORE: One journey has been completed, now Kenny Miller hopes Rangers can embark on another towards the Premiership title
He said: “I think it’s crucial we start well, not just to make a statement that we are back in the top league and we are going to be competitive.
“It’s for the sake of this team building its confidence just like we did last year.
“We won [eleven] games in a row and the belief within the group went through the roof.
“You always want to make a good start to the season but when you’re at hoe if you want to win the league then you’re going to have win these games.
“Listen it (going to Parkhead in front) is something we have definitely looked at. There is an opportunity there to get your nose in front straight away.
“You try not to look to far ahead. It’s a huge game for us on Saturday and if we can get off to a good start we are looking to get off to then there is a real possibility we can go into that game ahead.”
After cruising to five successive Premiership titles, Celtic will have a strong challenge once again this term as Rangers get set to make their return to the top flight.
The Gers will host Accies at lunchtime tomorrow before Brendan Rodgers’ side make the trip to Tynecastle on Sunday.
Celtic have cancelled their Premiership fixture on the second weekend of the campaign to play Inter Milan in Limerick.
And Miller hopes Warburton’s side can put the pressure on early doors by getting the points on the board in the first few weeks.
He said: “For me the big change this season with Rangers and Celtic in the top flight.
“Normally even on the opening day we play at the same time but you might get five or six games in the course of a season when they play at the same time, and four of them are when we are playing against each other. So there is an element of pressure there straight away.
“There is pressure every week when you play for these clubs but you are either playing catch up, or you have a chance to assert pressure and go ahead.
“There is always something on the games. You will play earlier, or a day later, an early kick off, or a late kick-off.
“There's that added pressure of having to play catch up or maintain a lead. If you have been over it, it is something you enjoy.
“There is a real focus on the games which maybe hasn't been there for a few years.”
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