IT is said that you are only ever a couple of games away from a crisis at Rangers.

Mark Warburton will hope the next three fixtures help him avert a Premiership disaster.

The matches with Hearts and Aberdeen in the coming days have stood out on the schedule for a while now and Rangers head to Tynecastle tonight aiming to earn a third successive league win for the first time this term.

Victory in the Capital would be a major boost for Rangers, and if they could follow it up with home wins against their two nearest rivals it would undoubtedly ease the pressure at Ibrox.

Read more: Rangers boss Mark Warburton hits back at Neil McCann and insists Joe Garner should get time to prove himself at Ibrox

That is the ideal scenario for Warburton as he looks for his side to make a statement of their intent and extend their advantage in the battle to be best of the rest.

A run of adverse results would put Rangers on the back foot, both in terms of the top flight table and in the eyes of supporters that have become increasingly frustrated this season.

For skipper Lee Wallace, it is a chance to take considerable steps in the right direction but the focus is firmly fixed on the Jambos clash to ensure they get a crucial few days off on the right footing.

“We are really looking forward to them,” he said. “These are the games you want to play.

Read more: Rangers boss Mark Warburton hits back at Neil McCann and insists Joe Garner should get time to prove himself at Ibrox

“We know the tussle between these three teams for second place at this stage – so we’re really looking forward to it.

“Hearts will be tough opponents as we say each week. They’ll be well set up, well organised and they will be hungry to try and play a top opponent in us.

“We’re looking to keep our momentum up, to stay in second place and then look to move forward.

“It will be an electric one. The three games that are coming up are the exciting ones, the ones we want to play in.

“We know these are the games more often than not we will be judged on and we’re looking forward to the challenge.

“You know how we work in here, we are always going to talk about the next game.

“We will be as competitive as we can and we will never change our mind set when we are asked what our ambitions and aspirations are for the end of the season.

“We always want to remain as competitive as we can and that obviously starts [tonight].

“We know we have got the three games. That cluster of games starts [tonight] and hopefully we can get three points and then move on and take it from there.”

After falling well off the title pace being set by Celtic in the first few weeks of the campaign, Rangers have embarked on a recovery mission in recent outings.

The last-gasp wins over Dundee and Partick Thistle helped move Warburton’s side up to second spot in the standings and now they have a chance to extend that advantage in the coming days.

And Wallace was heartened to see the Gers push until the closing seconds on both occasions as their perseverance paid off at Ibrox and Firhill.

He said: “It actually pleases me that we have got that bit about us. Had we not won these games the questions might have been that we don’t have that resilience, we don’t contain that character in the team, we have not got that never-say-die attitude that we can go right to the last whistle.

“I will sit and dissect a performance until midnight, or longer than that. But getting the three points is crucial.

“And the fact that we have managed to do it, leaving it late last week and the week before, it doesn’t make any difference.

Read more: Rangers boss Mark Warburton hits back at Neil McCann and insists Joe Garner should get time to prove himself at Ibrox

“We know we are going to try and aim to be better and the best we can be every single game.

“In an ideal world, we perform perfectly and we get the three points. But while that is happening and we are at this crucial stage of the season, winning and taking three points, learning more about your team-mates and in these two games learning the fact that we can go right until the last whistle.

“We have got that bit about us so that side of the game pleases me.”

If Rangers are to emerge victorious at Tynecastle tonight, they will have to display that same attitude and mentality in the heat of battle.

Wallace will return to familiar territory as he leads the Light Blues and is expecting another warm reception during an eagerly-anticipated Premiership clash.

He said: “Historically, Hearts away is one of the toughest fixtures for anyone.

“I can’t say now, obviously, as we’ve not been back for a couple of years, although we played initial games when I signed which we won.

“But, historically, I knew from a home player there the atmosphere and environment was superb.

“Hearts have a great set of fans and we’re hoping for an electric one on Wednesday night.”