MARK WARBURTON reckons RB Leipzig will provide a stern test for Rangers ahead of their return to domestic action after the winter break.

The Light Blues travel to Germany this weekend to face the Bundesliga high-flyers in what will be their only warm-up action for the Scottish Cup clash with Motherwell later this month.

Rangers went into the top flight shutdown on the back of a disappointing Old Firm defeat as Celtic came from behind to win 2-1 at Ibrox and extend their lead in the standings to 19 points.

Warburton could hand debuts to Emerson Hyndman and Jon Toral at the Red Bull Arena and he is confident the friendly action will stand his side in good stead for the remainder of the Premiership campaign.

He said: “We know it will be a very tough test against a team riding high in the Bundesliga and we wanted that quality of test to prepare for the second half of the season.

“They are a tremendous outfit and we’ve watched their progress, but we want that type of challenge.

“There are different schools of thought. People talk about going and playing a lower ranked team, winning comfortably and boosting morale and self-belief etc.

“I think we have to be tested. We certainly had a good test with Celtic for sure and to follow it up with this type of game as well puts the boys in the right frame of mind for the important fixture to come straight after.

“It’s a different test. How [Leipzig] press will be a different challenge for us, the quality of their ball possession, ball circulation will be a different test for us.

“So again we have to look forward to it, we have to learn from it, prepare well for it and recognise the quality of challenge.

“But as I say it’s all about preparing ourselves for the vitally important second half of the season.”