DAVID Brownlie today vowed to show he is a Rangers first team player-in- waiting - by helping the Ibrox club land the Glasgow Cup.

Brownlie has been encouraged by seeing kids like Fraser Aird, Robbie Crawford and Lewis Macleod all get their chance in Ally McCoist's side.

And in the second half of this season he has been delighted as promising teens Calum Gallagher and Charlie Telfer have been given the nod.

The defender, who will captain the Gers Under-17 side against their Celtic counterparts at Parkhead tonight, knows he is not ready to step up.

But he believes it is a good time to be a young player at the Govan giants and is hopeful he will be able to follow in the footsteps of his fellow young guns.

And looking ahead to the Glasgow Cup final he said: "It's a great chance for young player to show the gaffer what they are made of and stake a claim for the first team.

"Seeing Calum Gallagher and Charlie Telfer get into the team in recent weeks has definitely given every one of the young boys at Murray Park a lift.

"The off-field stuff hasn't had an effect on the younger age groups. Rangers still have a very strong youth and they are giving their all to beat the likes of Celtic.

"I think the fans should realise that there is strength in the youth that can help build the Rangers squad up again."

Brownlie added: "Tonight's game will be my first visit to Celtic Park. It's the only big stadium I have not played at yet so it will be great to go there.

"You need to raise your game at every venue. It doesn't matter the venue or the team you are playing. Every game should be treated the same.

"But the fact that it's an Old Firm game obviously gives you that extra buzz because it's your club's greatest rivals and you want to beat them."

Celtic skipper Joe Thompson is also looking to make an impact in a game that was marred by crowd trouble when it was played at Firhill last year.

He has seen Hoops boss Neil Lennon give run-outs to Darnell Fisher, Liam Henderson, John Herron and Eoghan O'Connell during the 2013/14 campaign.

And having trained with the first-team squad at Lennoxtown the midfielder is optimistic that he can make the step up himself sooner rather than later.

He said: "It has been brilliant seeing young players getting their chance in the first-team as it shows the whole academy that it is possible.

"My aim is just to play under-20s as often as possible but Liam, Darnell and Eoghan have done brilliantly since they've had their chance. John did very well earlier this month too.

"Everyone is looking to make the next step. It's an exciting time at the academy. I've trained with the under-20s and with the first team a couple of times when the rest of the squad has been on international duty.

"It is a massive step up but it's one I'm looking to take if I'm going to further my career.

"I've trained with Virgil van Dijk and obviously you need to learn from someone like him."