It’s safe to say Saturday’s clash with Hearts in the semi final of the Scottish Cup is officially Rangers’ most important fixture of the whole season.

More important than Europe, more important than winning at Parkhead.

Why?

Because it will prove one way or the other whether Steven Gerrard’s Rangers are a European-hit wonder only and incapable of stepping up domestically.

Beating Hearts, and exorcising the demon of January is a critical step to showing the boo boys that this team can produce the stunning European displays on their UEL journey on the domestic front.

Barring a massive Celtic collapse, they’ve secured 9IAR. This, and Uefa’s lot, is Rangers’ only chance of finally picking up silverware, meaningful silverware, and it’s safe to say fail v Hearts and it’s one step forward, two back the way.

We cannot rest on the laurels of such a huge European win – we cannot remain drunk on it as we did at Parkhead and let it all go past us.

Wednesday is done, it’s history. The Bayer stuff is for another day.

Right now, beating Hearts and getting to the semi is all that matters, and proving the doubters wrong that Rangers can only raise their game and play the effective tactics against continental opposition.

Hearts are no mugs, not any more. Daniel Stendel has had a marked effect on the Tynecastle side, and they will crave a trophy themselves.

On no level will this one be a walkover, and we reiterate – this is of paramount importance.

We want a domestic Rangers to believe in as much as the European one.

Give us that.