FORMER Rangers striker Kris Boyd admits it will be a ‘big ask’ for Hibernian to reel in Mark Warburton’s side in the Championship title race if the Light Blues emerge victorious at Easter Road on Sunday.

The Gers head into the top of the table showdown eight points clear of their main promotion rivals and aiming to continue their superb start to the season by recording a twelfth successive league triumph.

After a sluggish opening few weeks, Hibs have hit their own impressive run of form to ensure Rangers are still in sight ahead of their third meeting of the campaign this weekend.

And Boyd reckons all the pressure is on Alan Stubbs’ side as they look to inflict only a second defeat of the season on Ibrox boss Warburton.

He said: “It is obviously important for Hibs to win the game, there is no doubt about that.

“Hibs have turned the corner a little bit in terms of performances and getting results but really in that league, teams will make it hard for you, but the only challenge Rangers and Hibs get is when they play against each other.

“Both of them will go at it, they will take the game to each other.

“I think Hibs will need to win the game to have any chance. The way Rangers have been, they are only going to get better.

“In the last month, they have not dropped any points when they have not been playing great but they are still winning games.

“If Hibs don't beat them and they go eleven clear, it is going to be a big task to pull that back.”

Rangers continued their perfect Championship run with a 1-0 triumph at St Mirren last weekend as they once again dug deep to clinch all three points.

It has been an impressive opening few weeks for new boss Warburton and Boyd is pleased to see his former club showing a different side to their game as they have combined their free-flowing play with a determination and resolve.

“It is plain to see for everybody the hard work that has been done behind the scenes and the way they are playing the game.

“They have maybe huffed and puffed in the last couple of weeks but it is the sign of a good team, the sign of a Championship winning team when you don't play at your best and you are able to grind out results.

“On Sunday, they weren't great but they managed to find a way to win and that has been the story for the last month. They have not been playing the way they can play but they are still winning games.

“The standard was that high at the start of the season, they were scoring four or five goals every game.

“It is impossible to keep going like that, it doesn't matter how good a team you are. Even if you look at Barcelona, you can't score three, four, five goals every week.

“But what you can do is keep clean sheets and win games of football and over the last month Rangers have done that and they have kept the league unbeaten run intact.

"I am sure they will be looking forward to the game at Easter Road.”

*Kris Boyd was promoting a new Ladbrokes ’Track Your Acca’ app which allows punters to track their bets and cash out on the go - for full details log on to thegrid.ladbrokes.com.