SCOTT ARFIELD admits the prospect of losing his Rangers starting spot will see him play through the pain barrier for Steven Gerrard’s side this term.

The midfielder made his 33rd appearance of a hectic campaign on Saturday as the Light Blues were held to a goalless Scottish Cup draw at Rugby Park.

Arfield has been a hugely influential performer for boss Gerrard in recent weeks and months but still faces competition for a jersey at Ibrox.

He was replaced by Steven Davis for the closing stages against Killie and can’t be faulted for his effort after digging deep for the Gers once again on the back of the hard-fought win at Aberdeen.

Arfield said: “It was one of them on Wednesday, we put everything into it. Even the St Mirren game on the Saturday.

“I think everybody was the same in terms of how they were feeling but it is one of those things when you play for this club. You want to play in every competition and every game and I managed to get through 80 minutes or so.

“Of course you have to play through it and, in terms of character, everyone in the dressing room wants the same thing and to play in every game.

“If you drop out of the team at any given moment, you have a player there that can take your jersey. That is the standard in terms of character and ability in the team so as soon as you get in there, you play to keep that jersey.

“Everything is f*****! That is what the physio told me!

“It is fatigue, but that is what happens when you play as many games as we have on the back of the break that we had.

“We have had a tough start but we have come through it and we are in the draw for the next round of the cup. Hopefully in the replay we can do ourselves justice again.”

Rangers emerged unscathed from a potentially defining week as they followed up their win at Pittodrie with a battling performance against Kilmarnock.

And Arfield is pleased with their efforts from two huge fixtures as attentions turn to the visit of St Johnstone on Premiership duty this weekend.

He said: “Obviously we had to go up to Aberdeen and win and show a different side.

“I think the two games are very similar in terms of the performance against two teams that play the same way. It is second ball games and being at it.

“I don’t think we are fluid, the surface here doesn’t allow you to be, at the Aberdeen game was very similar.

“It was obviously on grass but they are compact and it is difficult to get through to their back three or four. It was a massive week but we have come through the other side of it and we are still in the cup.

“We have to take them to Ibrox and it will be a different game when we get there. Hopefully we can do ourselves justice and go and win.

“I think we have shown that before but the game here that we lost 2-1, that was a dogfight that we lost. There have been performance and we have got points and we have won games in different ways.

“It probably doesn’t get merited as much as it should but that is the flipside of playing for this club, as soon as you lose points everybody is telling you you weren’t at it. We have done that and staying in the competition for as long as possible is the aim.”