ALLY MCCOIST believes Rangers could land the first blow in next season's Premiership title race by clinching the Scottish Cup this term.

The champions host Celtic this weekend aiming to move a step closer to Hampden and keep alive their dreams of a domestic double after wrapping up their first league crown in a decade.

Celtic interim manager John Kennedy has claimed that victory at Ibrox would vindicate his assertion that it is his squad that remains the best in the country despite the 20 point deficit to their Old Firm rivals.

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And McCoist reckons Rangers can banish that notion completely with a fourth round win that would give them a shot at the silverware and the chance to hammer home their advantage over Celtic this term.

"100 per cent. Absolutely," he said when asked if this was a chance for Rangers to show they are the best side in Scotland. "This is some game we have coming up at the weekend, boys.

"I mean this is magic, because Rangers have a real chance and an opportunity. The league campaign was always the big one for Rangers this year – and Celtic – and they have as I say thoroughly deserved it, but what an opportunity to go and get a league and cup double and at the same time maybe put a marker down.

"All of a sudden, if Rangers go and win the league and cup double, incoming Celtic players are thinking, have Rangers got the sign over them, is there a little bit of domination.

"Whereas flip it over, if Celtic go and win the game, John can think this team has a chance of winning the cup. OK, we did not perform in the league but we are not as bad as everyone thinks.

"It is an opportunity for both sides to clearly win the final trophy of the season but from Steven’s point of view, what an opportunity to put a marker down and say, when the vast majority of people I felt fancied Celtic at the start of the season, that ‘it didn’t happen’.

"Now they have the opportunity to go through the league undefeated which is phenomenal and if they can go and win the cup double, then it has been a tremendous season.

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"The boys can go away and have a break and look forward to the start of next season.

"It is such an important thing because if you are a Celtic player you do not want to go through the summer thinking they have just won the double, we might have one or two players going out, one or two coming in, and you start asking yourself questions.

"The effect that this particular game can have at the weekend is massive."

*Ally McCoist was speaking to promote coverage of Rangers v Celtic exclusively live on Premier Sports this weekend. Premier Sports is available on Sky, Virgin TV and the Premier Player. Prices start from £10.99 per month.