THE cliche is of one game at a time. The reality is different for Rangers, though, ahead of two matches with very different meanings.

No fixture - anything from friendly to final - can ever be written off by any Rangers manager but it is clear where Giovanni van Bronckhorst's priorities lie this week.

In the opening days of his reign at Ibrox, he achieved his first goal as he guided the champions to victory over Sparta Prague and into the knockout round draw.

In the weeks since, he has picked up where Steven Gerrard left off domestically and Rangers find themselves four points clear at the top of the table heading into their meeting with Hearts on Sunday.

Van Bronckhorst knows he cannot dismiss his fifth match in charge but the Group A clash with Lyon on Thursday evening is more inconvenience than exciting prospect right now.

The game, of course, does not allow managers to pick and choose results, but there is only one three points that Van Bronckhorst really needs. His focus will be on Lyon, but one eye will be on Hearts.

Juggling the demands of a European campaign alongside the need for Premiership silverware is no easy task and Arthur Numan - Van Bronckhorst's compatriot and former team-mate - knows the 46-year-old will have plenty to ponder right now.

"Thursday night's European game away to Lyon is 'meaningless' in the grand scheme of things," Numan said.

"Sure, we would all love to see Rangers get a victory, or a draw, but even if we lose, the hard work has been done in the previous five games.

"We are through to the knockout stages of the Europa League and that box has been ticked off in a positive way.

"That's why I think Giovanni van Bronckhorst might rest a few key players in midweek and save them for Sunday's trip to Hearts.

"Remember, we play nine games in December, all the way through to the January 2 clash away to Celtic.

"Listen, as players, we all just want to play. We would rather play than train.

"But, I have to say, I think the scheduling is fierce. There needs to be more consideration for players' welfare taken into account.

"In the winter conditions already in place in Scotland, it is not good for the body to be playing so many games.

"It is also unfair on the supporters to be asked to have such a huge financial pressure put on their shoulders at this time of year."

The trip to Lyon this week is Rangers' third match during a December schedule that will go some way to shaping their aspirations for the second half of the campaign.

Hibernian and Dundee have been overcome already, while St Johnstone, Dundee United and St Mirren are visitors to Ibrox before the champions head to Aberdeen. After the Hogmanay bells ring, Celtic await.

If Rangers emerge from the run with their lead intact, Van Bronckhorst will see it as a significant achievement. But Numan is well aware that task will be easier said than done in the coming weeks.

Numan said: "Listen, I totally understand the SPFL hierarchy don't have much room for manoeuvre when it comes to the fixtures, but to have eight Premiership games in 33 days is out of order.

"In that list of games, Rangers have had, or will have, visits to Edinburgh (twice) and Aberdeen and Parkhead. This is why Giovanni will have to be careful with team selections.

"Tynecastle will be his priority as he will try to keep that nice lead at the top of the table. To be four points ahead of Celtic at this stage is so good.

"Giovanni will remember from his playing days at Rangers, as I certainly do, what a tough venue Tynecastle is to get something from.

"They are tasty fixtures, but one that every Rangers player should be looking forward to and ready to face the challenge head on."

It will be first versus third in the capital on Sunday as Rangers face another Edinburgh challenge and aim to complete it more comfortably than they did at Easter Road last week.

Hearts were unfortunate not to take anything from Celtic last time out and Robbie Neilson's side can certainly not be underestimated by Rangers ahead of the game of the weekend.

Tynecastle tussles are amongst the most eagerly anticipated occasions of the season. It is one that the champions will have to be up for.

"If you are not bursting to get out there and play on Sunday afternoon, then you shouldn't be wearing the jersey," Numan wrote in his weekly 5Stars Ltd column.

"It's in games such as this that you can look back on, if successful, and point to it being a pivotal day in a title triumph.

"You need to win tough fixtures on the road and they don't really come much tougher than this.

"This is when Giovanni will be looking to Allan McGregor, James Tavernier, Steve Davis and Alfredo Morelos to lead by example and show the way to victory.

"Sunday is not a day for carrying passengers - every player will need to be bang on it."