If Walter Smith's short-term ambition for Rangers is to be fulfilled in the coming week, his players will have to break new ground. The manager's immediate objective is to come through three Premier Division matches between now and next Saturday unscathed.

But throughout this trying season, Rangers have not managed at any point to win more than two in a row.

The crowded schedule starts with today's trip to Hibernian, continues with the match at Kilmarnock on Tuesday and ends with Saturday's home game against the joint leaders Hearts.

"It's unusual to have three league games this close together," said Smith. "At the end of the week, we'll be down to single figures in the number of matches left in the championship. There is little margin for error when you get to that stage.

"We gave an improved performance in the Scottish Cup win over Motherwell on Tuesday, but what we really need to find is the consistency we have lacked this season. If we can come through the week unscathed, it will be a big plus."

Smith seems certain once again to leave Paul Gascoigne on the substitutes bench. The England midfielder has looked thin and jaded in recent weeks and played only the last seven minutes of the 3-0 win over Motherwell.

Smith confirmed that the defender Sergio Porrini, free of suspension, would return to the side and hinted at Gascoigne's continued omission by adding: "I wouldn't anticipate any other changes."

Brian Laudrup, having agreed to join Chelsea, will come under scrutiny by Rangers fans, but Smith said: "Laudrup has been under the microscope for a while, but he's not the only one who has to turn in a good performance".

Celtic, behind the champions only on goal difference, seem likely to be unchanged once again for the home match with a Kilmarnock side who, in recent years, have shown themselves to be something of a bogey.

"Every match we play now is a cup final," said their head coach Wim Jansen, "but our players know about pressure because they've played at high levels and they are used to it.

"What we need at this stage is total concentration in matches. We played well when we beat Dunfermline on Monday, we were direct from the start and put them under pressure. We have to maintain that kind of form now."

Hearts, on the same points mark as the Old Firm, travel to Motherwell with a full-strength squad.

Emanuelle Omoyinmi is likely to start on the bench for Dundee United at Dunfermline after joining them on a month's deal from West Ham. The 20-year-old Nigerian-born winger has been allowed to move to Tannadice in the short term by manager Harry Redknapp to build up his fitness.

Omoyinmi, who played for England schoolboys, has been sidelined for the best part of the season because of a groin injury.