Andy Dowie believes Rangers' "need" to get back to the Scottish Premiership will increase the pressure on them in their play-off tie against Queen of the South.

After re-emerging in the bottom tier of Scottish football in 2012 following their descent into administration and liquidation, the Ibrox club began a three-year quest to return to the top flight.

The Light Blues' stumble in the last leg of the much-vaunted journey saw them achieve a third-place finish in the Championship.

If Stuart McCall's men manage to get past the Dumfries outfit, who have beaten them 2-0 and 3-0 at Palmerston this season, they will face Hibernian with the winners taking on the as-yet-undecided second-bottom Premiership side in the play-off final.

Dowie, who played one game for Rangers at the start of his career, knows another season in the Championship is not on the Ibrox agenda.

Ahead of the first-leg at Palmerston on Saturday, and delighted after signing a new contract which will keep him at Queen of the South for another year, the 32-year-old defender said: "Going into any game of football there is pressure.

"But I can see that there is obviously much more pressure on Rangers because they need to get up whereas Queen of the South don't.

"We have had two great results at Palmerston against them.

"I am not sure how much that will count for come Saturday but we will take positives from that and hopefully the games pan out the same."

Dowie is puzzled by the theory that the artificial surface at Palmerston is playing on the minds of the Rangers players.

"They have played on artificial surfaces in a good amount of games this season and the last couple of seasons so you wouldn't think so," he said.

"But there has been a lot made of it and I don't really understand why to be honest.

"It would be unfair to the Rangers team to say they didn't fancy it but maybe looking at their performances, fans might think that.

"Some people are saying we are favourites going into the game but we don't see it that way.

"Rangers are still a massive club, a much bigger club than ourselves so we need to concentrate on ourselves and not worry about them too much.

"We will be looking to win the game.

"We probably need to go to Ibrox with some sort of lead so that will be the aim."

Following his departure from Ibrox in 2004, Dowie's career took him to Partick Thistle twice, Stranraer, Ross County and Dunfermline and he covets a return to the Scottish Premiership.

"That is what the dream is," he said.

"Obviously it will be very difficult but that is the aim.

"At the age of 32 there is not going to be many other opportunities, I know that.

"It would be great for me personally to be back playing in the Premiership, and for the club.

"I am pleased that I will be here for next season.

"And even if I am still in the Championship, I will still look forward to it."

Queens manager Jamie Fowler was pleased to get Dowie tied up on a new contract.

He said: "Andy has been outstanding this season and to have secured him for another year is fantastic news."