Giovanni van Bronckhorst is about to face a potentially defining battle at what is sure to be a Tynecastle throbbing with noise and colour on Saturday afternoon.

The lunchtime kick-off means his side have the chance to come away from the league's third toughest venue atop the table despite what is widely considered to have been a spluttering start to the season.

Such an opportunity seemed unthinkable as Celtic surged five points clear after tearing their bitter rivals asunder at Parkhead only a few weeks ago.

Pressure is a strange beast and putting Celtic, who not so very long ago looked domestically invincible, under the cosh by ensuring they have to win against Motherwell to remain on top of the pile is essential. With fixtures, and injuries, now building up, Ange Postecoglou's men will face more domestic scrutiny in the weeks ahead as they look to balance competitions both at home and on the continent.

And while van Bronckhorst's away record doesn't fill you with confidence of victory in Edinburgh, he has to sort it out eventually if he's to remain in post. And there would be no better place to start.

The return from injury of Tom Lawrence will be crucial, even if the Welshman can only make the bench. Capable of playing in multiple different positions, he brings a level of goal threat that no other player offers from midfield with the exception of the injured Ianis Hagi.

Lawrence has a wicked dig and has already showcased a capacity for the spectacular with a few efforts that have gone close this term, not least a stunning dipping shot that crashed against the woodwork in the Netherlands against PSV. With Rangers facing a low block most weeks, his ability to go over rather than around is sure to yield big numbers by the end of the season. The lack of other players to match his adaptability and goal threat from midfield and wide areas is an area Rangers urgently need to address in the January transfer window.

While much has been made of issues, going forward, Rangers' defence has also been rocky. They will have to watch Hearts' duo of Barrie McKay and Lawrence Shankland who are amongst the most talented players operating outside of the top two.

McKay, who has always been an incredible technical talent, has blossomed in Gorgie as he looks to finally add the numbers to his game that will take it to the next level. If he can do that, there's no reason why a final big move to England or abroad can't be part of his future. He will be keen to weave his artful magic against his old team, especially given the size of the canvas on offer with national Sky coverage.

Connor Goldson hasn't been at his best since signing a deal to remain at Ibrox in the summer and he will have to be sharp to keep Hearts' attacking weaponry in check. Without the pace of Calvin Bassey or the experience of Fil Helander he's been exposed at times, despite James Sands doing decent work and receiving acclaim.

There will be hope that as Rangers' injury list clears, the increased competition brought about by having the likes of Ben Davies, Ianis Hagi and Kemar Roofe around will lift the levels and ensure everyone is sharp and ready for the challenges ahead. 

Make no mistake, Rangers and their manager are about to enter an intense period in the run-up to the World Cup that will likely define the season. 

They must stand up and be counted, starting with Tynecastle on Saturday.

This piece is an extract from today’s Rangers Insider newsletter, which is emailed out at 4pm every weekday with a round-up of the day's top stories and exclusive analysis from the Rangers Review team.

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