PHILIPPE CLEMENT says Rangers are excited to get their Scottish Cup campaign underway when the side host Fraserburgh at Ibrox in the Fourth Round on Sunday afternoon.
The Highland League outfit sit four tiers below Rangers in the Scottish football pyramid and the fixture could offer Clement the opportunity to freshen up his squad amid a busy run of games.
The Belgian, however, is well aware of the magic of the Scottish Cup, stressing the importance of producing a professional performance in front of a home crowd on Sunday.
Speaking to the media to preview Sunday’s showdown, Clement commented: “We need to take this game very seriously.
“Everyone in the UK loves cup competitions because there are always surprises.
“We don’t want to be one of the bad surprises in that way.
“I’m not going to exaggerate that also, and it’s not about putting out an entirely different starting XI because it doesn’t work.”
A young player who has made strides in recent weeks is Clinton Nsiala, who has impressed in each of his last three starts at the heart of the Gers defence.
Clement said of the Frenchman’s progress: “I’m very happy with what he did in the last three games and how he has worked.
“He has been hungry since the day he stepped in the building, and it’s about confirming this and keeping two feet on the ground.
“I’m happy that people are seeing the fruits that have been planted in the summer.
“People are starting to see the first part of them growing up and they still have the potential to grow a lot.”
The Light Blues boast a rich history in the Scottish Cup as they commence another campaign where they will be targeting ultimate glory at the national stadium in May.
Indeed, the visit of the Highland League sides comes amid a hectic run of fixtures for Rangers where they will make the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League next week.
Clement says it’s important that the Gers don’t look to take their foot off the gas in the meantime.
He added: “We need to create a culture where it’s about winning every game.
“I don’t want a situation where my players only think about the cup now.
“It’s about wanting to win every game and creating the culture in all the minds and bodies.
“That’s something new for some players and for some staff members, the every three days story, but it’s also an exciting story.
“If you can get to that level then you get a really big reward. It’s about so many details; how much you sleep, what you eat, your diet, and how you work in training.
“There are a lot of things that you need to be top, and then afterwards you need to win against all the opponents who are super hungry to win.
“It’s also about being in the experience to really live it, and you also see the players who have a real hunger to become better.”
Tickets for this Sunday's Scottish Cup match against Fraserburgh can be purchased here.