PEDRO CAIXINHA is pleased to see his Portuguese defensive pairing forming an immediate understanding at Ibrox this season.

The arrival of Bruno Alves has made a real difference to Rangers in recent weeks as the 35-year-old has led by example at the heart of the Light Blues’ rear guard.

Alves scored his first Gers goal in the Betfred Cup win over Dunfermline on Wednesday night as he curled home to a superb free-kick to set Rangers well on course for a quarter-final spot.

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But boss Caixinha knows his influence at the other end of the park is crucial as he passes on his words of wisdom to compatriot Fabio Cardoso.

He said: “The central spine, the relations in the central spine, you need to watch it as relations and associations.

“So I cannot watch just one single centre half. I need to watch for the double.

“They are getting along, they are understanding and the communication and the language also helps. One experienced and one young that wants to learn and one that wants to teach and coach at the same time. I think that is very good.

“Also, when Danny (Wilson) is coming, he is doing good. On Wednesday he came and we played with two but in the other matches we have played with three and Danny was the third, so that is another option as well.”

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Alves has quickly become a firm favourite with supporters as he impressed in the wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Motherwell before he strolled through the Pars clash.

The stopper was denied another crack at goal as he was replaced just before Daniel Candeias found the top corner from the edge of the area.

But Caixinha was delighted that Alves was able to showcase his dead ball skills as he brought the fans to their feet.

He said: “I have not been surprised by his impact. If you know Bruno like the Portuguese know Bruno then you know you are not going to lose.

“He is a leader, he is a winner and he leads by his presence.

“After his first game against Marseille, and he only played 55 minutes, everyone understood he was at a different level.

“He is one of our key players and he will help us get to where we want to be.

“I know Bruno can take free-kicks, only in Portugal don’t ask him because Ronaldo won’t allow it.

“But we have Bruno, Niko (Kranjcar), James Tavernier and Candeias who can all take free-kicks. Here Bruno can do it also.”

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The free-kick may have been the highlight of the night for Alves but there was plenty to admire about his overall performance as he and Cardoso once again impressed.

The visit of Hibernian this weekend will be a far different challenge for Caixinha’s side to rise to as they target another Premiership win.

And the Ibrox boss is confident the Gers can handle the heat in what could be a high-tempo, high-energy top flight clash.

Caixinha said: “I know that our team this season is more physical and we can get more on the duals.

“When we need to put that presence on the park, we can do it. It is not our style of play.

“I want the team to be combative, a team that fights, but aggression is another thing. I want to be loyal and strong on the ball, I want the players to be coordinated and organised but put pressure all the team. I might call that a combative team.

“We expect our team to act like that and from what I have watched on video and what I watched live at Easter Road, they are also an aggressive team.

“We might expect a game in that direction but we want the team to be combative regarding to our own identity and understand what is going on and deliver that to the game.”