ST Johnstone midfielder Murray Davidson will be going head to head with one-time Livingston team-mate Graham Dorrans for the first time when Rangers travel to Perth tomorrow night.

And he believes his long-time pal is the beating heart of the Gers team.

He said: “Even when he was in my youth team at Livingston, he was Rangers daft.  It’s not an act with him. He genuinely is a Rangers fan. He has been all his life – or at least since I knew him at the age of 16. 

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“I know from speaking to him that he was desperate to join. When I saw him pre-season, I had a laugh and joke with him, said: ‘You finally made it!’ 

“Having a couple of people like that in your team is a massive, massive help. If everybody isn’t aware what it means to play for Rangers, someone like Graham can certainly get it through to them. 

“This will be the first time I’ve played against him in a competitive match – and I’m looking forward to it.”

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Saints played Pedro Caixinha’s new-look Gers twice in pre-season and Davidson believes Light Blue fans have to be patient.

“It doesn’t matter how good a manager you are or how good the players already there are. Managers want their own stamp on a team and it will take time. 

“You can see there has been an improvement, from what I’ve seen. But there are also areas we feel we can exploit. It’s up to us to do that on Friday.” 

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Ibrox loan star Michael O’Halloran will be forced to sit out the clash and Caixinha has made it clear the attacker doesn’t figure in his long-term plans.

Davidson admitted Perth players will be tempted to tap O’Halloran for the inside track on Gers.

“It’s a miss not having Michael in the team – but we can maybe use him to our advantage, see what he has to say about Rangers. 

“It can be awkward for him because he’s still a Rangers player. So, whether the boys go and ask him, that might be a personal thing. But I’m sure it might happen. 

“Mikey has come here to prove he’s worthy of playing – and he’s done that. Rangers’ loss is definitely our gain.”