Rangers say that they are not nervous as they enter the final stages of the Scottish championship, but clearly the strain is beginning to tell.

Manager Dick Advocaat bites his tongue and insists that a lead in the Premier League over Celtic, which has shrunk from 13 points to only four, is a misleading statistic. At the very least, a good few people there must be biting their nails.

This weekend will decide whether they are cut to the quick. Celtic travel to Perth to meet St Johnstone today and Rangers are at home to Aberdeen tomorrow evening. Aberdeen are not Rangers' preferred choice of opponents. Their supporters believe that the Pittodrie club merely rests up for nine matches in every quarter of the season before taking it out on them. This is pure paranoia even if results suggest that the Dons would be higher up the league if they could be more consistent.

Celtic, though, may provide them with some help because St Johnstone are awkward as well. The possible return of Alan Stubbs to the Celtic side gives them an edge on the injury front because Rangers will be without defender Tony Vidmar and midfielder Jorg Albertz. It is hardly any wonder that Scotland's radio stations are anticipating record audiences for the commentaries.