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Scottish Championship: Hibernian boss Alan Stubbs is relishing the visit of promotion rivals Rangers

Alan Stubbs: Hibernian boss is preparing for the visit of Rangers
Image: Alan Stubbs: Hibernian boss is preparing for the visit of Rangers

Hibernian boss Alan Stubbs is relishing the prospect of facing Championship promotion rivals Rangers at Easter Road on Saturday.

Hibs go into the match seven points behind second place Rangers, who in turn are 12 points adrift of runaway leaders Hearts in the automatic promotion place.

The match will see Stubbs come up against former Celtic youth and reserve coach Kenny McDowall for the first time in his management career.

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McDowall took charge at Rangers on Monday after Ally McCoist was placed on gardening leave for the final 12 months of his Ibrox contract.

Hibernian beat Rangers 3-1 in their previous league fixture this season, and Stubbs concedes he will have to second guess McDowall’s tactics ahead of Saturday’s Sky Live encounter.

Stubbs said: “We crossed paths in my time at Celtic. I know Kenny really well, and the fact that he’s taken the reins now that Ally’s on gardening leave it’s a big job for him.

“Whether there is a slight change or whether it’s a continuity where he says ‘right, no different, we carry on’, whether they keep the same formation as in 4-4-2 or whether they change the personnel within that, we will see on the team-sheets before the game.

“It’s not going to alter the way we’re going to approach the game.”

Regardless of the outcome on Saturday, Stubbs remains confident his charges can finish second in the table ahead of Rangers.

“Well we’ll be trying. I think that’s the most important thing," he said. "Saturday is a big game and it can give us a real impetus to try and claw into that gap that is between us at this moment.

“But no matter what happens on Saturday, I still feel as if we can try and get into that second place from now until the end of the season. That’s our ultimate aim.“

Watch Hibs take on Rangers live from Easter Road from midday Saturday on Sky Sports 1

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