Scottish Championship: Kris Boyd reckons a strong Rangers side will face East Fife

Rangers striker Kris Boyd reckons manager Ally McCoist will field his strongest available team in Tuesday’s Petrofac Training Cup tie against East Fife.

Boyd scored his first league goal of the campaign in the 6-1 victory over Raith Rovers on Saturday to keep Rangers nine points behind Championship leaders Hearts.

While there is pressure on McCoist’s team not to fall too far behind the league leaders, with only one automatic promotion place up for grabs, Boyd reckons Rangers have to go all out to beat the Fifers.

We scored a few goals against Raith and will look to do the same against East Fife.

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson put out a second-string team in the Petrofac Training Cup earlier this season against Livingston as he kept his top troops fresh for the promotion battle.

Livi ran riot with a 4-1 win, but Boyd says Rangers will be under too much pressure to see off Gary Naysmith's men.

Boyd said: "At this club you cannot separate leagues and cups - you have to win every single thing you enter.

"So we've got another great opportunity on Tuesday night to put on a performance.

"We scored a few goals against Raith and will look to do the same against East Fife.

"It will be a hard game but if we go out with the same attitude we did on Saturday I don't see any reason why we can't win it convincingly as well."

Rangers are hoping to return to the final of the competition after losing in last season’s showpiece at Easter Road to Raith after extra-time.