IBROX midfielder Charlie Adam has dismissed suggestions St Mirren will not put up much of a fight against Rangers tonight because they have nothing left to play for this season.
While the rest of the bottom six clubs are already looking ahead to their holidays with their campaigns now over, Saints have one final re-arranged game to take care of.
A win would allow them to move ahead of Inverness Caledonian Thistle into nin
th place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and ensure a superb end to a hard season for Gus MacPherson's men.
Of course, the stakes are much higher for Rangers, who are still hopeful of a domestic treble even though their title hopes were dealt a massive blow after being held to a 1-1 draw at Motherwell.
Rangers have the game in hand against Saints but Celtic boast a three-point lead at the summit and superior goal difference of plus seven. That means Walter Smith's men must record comprehensive wins over Saints and Aberdeen or hope their rivals slip up against Dundee United in their final game on Thursday night.
Motherwell already had third place secured when they put on a fine show against Rangers at the weekend and Adam – who spent a year on loan at Love Street – expects much the same from his old club tonight.
"We won't take it for granted and I know every player in the St Mirren dressing room won't take the game for granted," he said.
"To beat Rangers would be a big thing for them before going on holiday. We know it's going to be tough.
"They have had another fantastic season so it will be hard. But we will be looking for the right result.
"St Mirren have done well this season. I've still got a lot of friends there and they will make it difficult, along with the manager.
"But, if we go there and approach the game right, I don't see why we shouldn't win the game."
The double-header against Saints and Aberdeen, as well as Saturday's Scottish Cup final against Queen of the South, will make or break Rangers' season.
But Adam insists every player in the Ibrox dressing room can handle the pressure.
"It's going to be tough," admitted the midfielder.
"It's three games in six days but we are looking forward to it.
"It will be a fantastic occasion for us and although there will be a lot of pressure in these last three games, we can handle it.
"We will look forward to the games as they come."
Wednesday's UEFA Cup final defeat to Zenit St Petersburg may have played a part in dropping points at Fir Park three days later. But Adam insisted: "We could still have a treble to look forward to if we win every game.
"The UEFA Cup was a disappointment but, as footballers, you forget about it.
"It's done now. We will reflect on it in the summer but there are three important games first and it could still be a wonderful season. The season is almost done now and the last three games are the biggest games of the season.
"If we win them all, it could be a fantastic season for us.
"As players we have to prepare right and we will do. It will be a good summer if we can win the three of them."
The full article contains 576 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
