Miller wary of Hibs challenge

Striker Kenny Miller says Rangers will not underestimate Hibernian as they prepare to face them in their Scottish Premier League clash at Ibrox on Wednesday despite the gulf in points between the two sides.

Hibernian have been struggling for form in the SPL this season and only goal difference separates the Edinburgh side from bottom of the table St Mirren.

A poor run of results cost former manager John Hughes his job with former Scotland international Colin Calderwood replacing him in the Easter Road dugout last month.

The ex-Newcastle United assistant manager has had a torrid time as he watched his side lose their first three matches with him at the helm, including Sunday’s Edinburgh derby against Hearts.

However former Hibs striker Miller says league leaders Rangers will give the Edinburgh side, who sit 23 points behind them in the table, as much respect as they did last season when they were challenging the Old Firm at the top of the SPL.

“Hibs are always a good team who come to play football and I don’t expect it to be any different because of where they are in the table,” Miller said.

“Colin Calderwood will be putting his own stamp on things and we know that it is going to be tough on Wednesday night.

“So there is no way we will treat Hibs lightly just because they are at the foot of the SPL.

“We will have to start the game a lot better than we did at St Mirren, that is for sure.”

Hibs will be without captain Derek Riordan after his sending off against Hearts while Nikica Jelavic and James Beattie will be missing for Rangers.

Old Firm rivals Celtic, who are just a point behind Rangers, face a tough trip to Tynecastle to take on Hearts. The Hoops were in sparkling form on Saturday as they set a new SPL record score with a 9-0 thrashing of Aberdeen which included hat-tricks for Gary Hooper and Anthony Stokes.

And Irish international Stokes feels the pair have formed a formidable strike partnership since they joined the club in the summer.

“We work very well together and if he’s in a better position than me, then I’ll give him the ball,” Stokes said.

“But the best aspect of the two of us is scoring goals and we just want to score as many as we can.

“Going forward, we really look like we’re gelling and hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.”

Neil Lennon will be without captain Scott Brown and Beram Kayal due to injury. On Tuesday a shell shocked Aberdeen face Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Pittodrie.

Mark McGhee’s job as Dons manager is under threat following a record defeat to Celtic while Inverness are unbeaten in nearly a year away from home.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Kilmarnock take on struggling Hamilton at Rugby Park.

Killie have won two in a row to climb the league while Billy Reid’s side sit just a point off bottom and have just one victory from their past eight matches.

Bottom of the table St Mirren travel to Tannadice to take on Dundee United and Motherwell welcome St Johnstone to Fir Park following an impressive win away to Inverness which strengthened their grip on third place.

Tuesday (1945 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Aberdeen v Inverness CT

Wednesday

Hearts v Celtic (1930)

Dundee United v St Mirren

Kilmarnock v Hamilton

Motherwell v St Johnstone

Rangers v Hibernian