RANGERS will be hoping the adrenalin rush from their incredible Euro comeback against Braga can propel them to three precious points against St Johnstone.
I thought the Europa League first leg with Braga would be a cagey affair, given the terrible Ibrox pitch and Steven Gerrard's hints that he would take a more pragmatic approach.
Instead, it turned into a five-goal thriller with Rangers coming from 2-0 down to turn the tie on its head with three goals in just 15 minutes.
Gerrard will be hoping that fightback is a turning point in their season and his side now head to Perth knowing they need a win to stay clinging to Celtic's coattails.
Slip-ups against Hearts, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock since the winter break have left Rangers 10 points behind their bitter rivals in the title race, albeit with a game in hand.
That re-arranged match is against St Johnstone at Ibrox but first they need to head to Perth to face a Saints side beginning to find a bit of form.
Tommy Wright's men are on a five-game unbeaten run, winning three of those games, and will be looking to take advantage of any fatigue from Rangers after their midweek exertions.
How the bookies view it
Despite their patchy league form, Gerrard's men are heavy favourites for this one and are a best 41/100 at Marathonbet. The draw pays 4-1 at Betfair while St Johnstone are as a big as 8/1 with the same firm.
I wouldn't rule out a stalemate but I'll be doubling a Rangers win with both teams to score at 58/25 with Marathonbet.
Recent head to head
Rangers romped to a 4-0 victory in Perth earlier in the season, although two late Jermain Defoe goals did put a bit of gloss on the scoreline (below).
The Ibrox side have won on their last five trips to Perth since a 1-1 draw back in 2016. St Johnstone have a better record at Ibrox, having lost on just two of their last six visits, but haven't beaten Rangers at home since a 4-1 victory way back in 2010.
Players to watch
Ianis Hagi was the star in midweek with a double but the Romanian isn't a great price here at 23/10 with Ladbrokes for anytime scorer.
Instead I'm going to back Joe Aribo at 9/2 with William Hill in the same market. He helped turn the game against Braga after coming off the bench and the goal he grabbed should secure a starting slot in Perth.
St Johnstone striker Stevie May looks to be getting his confidence back after a barren few seasons and has three goals in his last five games. He's 17/4 with Unibet for a goal here and that could be a decent option.
Anything else catch the eye?
There have been over 2.5 goals in the last five meetings between these sides at McDiarmid Park and a repeat here pays 4/5 at Marathonbet.
For a longer-odds option, try backing Rangers star Ryan Jack for a card at 11/2 with Bet365. He was banned in midweek but should return to add some freshness to Gerrard's midfield.
This Scottish Premiership match between St Johnstone and Rangers will be played on Feb 23, 2020 and kick off at 13:30. Check below for our tipsters best St Johnstone vs Rangers prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
