NEIL ALEXANDER says Rangers face seven cup finals between now and the end of the season in their bid to land the Quadruple.

The Ibrox keeper admitted that yesterday's 0-0 draw with Hibs felt like a defeat after Walter Smith's side failed to cut into Celtic's lead at the top of the SPL.

The Parkhead men are seven points clear - albeit Rangers still have three games in hand - but there is no margin for error now for Alexander and his team-mates with five SPL matches to go.

They face Motherwell at Ibrox on Wednesday in the latest instalment of a gruelling fixture run that sees them play seven games in the next 19 days.

And Alexander insisted: "We are in the Uefa Cup Final and the Scottish Cup Final but, really, it's seven Cup Finals now, that's the situation we face. There is no getting away from it, it's very difficult for us and it would be nice to have a bit more breathing space.

"It does feel as though everything is against us, and it's interesting to see people say this, that and the other about our situation.

"We just need to use all of these thing to our advantage and try to come out as a stronger side, and hopefully with more trophies this season.

"I believe we have a strong enough squad to do it, but we have to raise our game, we have to answer the questions that are being put our way. We know what is at stake here and we will give it everything.

"Celtic only have two games left, we have seven, but it's still in our hands and we are fully focussed on what we have to do."

Alexander refused to use tiredness as a factor despite the fact Rangers had to take to the field at Easter Road just 54 hours after getting back from their Uefa Cup semi-final win over Fiorentina.

The keeper went on: "We are not using tiredness as an excuse, we have games coming thick and fast and we just have to play.

"OK, it would be nice to have a bit of a break but we realise the circumstances.

"A lot of players would like to be in our position with two cup finals secured and still a chance of winnning the title.

"We went into the game yesterday desperate to win and unfortunately we just couldn't get a goal. Credit to Hibs, they made it very difficult for us and limited us to few genuine chances."

Boss Walter Smith will have Steven Whittaker back from suspension for the visit of Mark McGhee's side, and could also have Charlie Adam and Lee McCulloch available.

But he has suffered another injury blow with Chris Burke ruled out for between three and four months. Smith explained: "Chris has manfully tried to come back from his ankle injury, but he needs an operation and that could mean three or four months out which is a blow."

Smith will also be without key defender Carlos Cuellar - the Football Writers' Player of the Year - for the SPL game at St Mirren on May 19 after his booking at Hibs earned him a one-game ban.