The Light Blues currently occupy top spot heading into the final ten games of the campaign – each team plays each other twice in the split format – but are closely tracked by a host of sides.
Indeed, Hibs sit just two points behind the Gers, while Kilmarnock and Aberdeen remain three and four points respectively adrift of Smith’s side.
Speaking to the official Rangers website ahead of the post-split run-in, Smith says his side’s remit is clear: “I’ve worked with the group for a long time – over the last three or four years – and they deserve it for the work and effort they’ve put in.
“But it’s going to be tough over these next ten games, so hopefully over the next 12 weeks they’re able to get their rewards for the hard work.
“It’s ten games to go. It’s quite simple for me.
“We’re into the split and the top end of the league is really tight. We’ll never hide away from the fact that we want to win it, and that’s a pressure that you put on the players.
“But we know within that that there’s going to be bumps in the road because they are so young.
“They know what my expectations are – and their expectations as a group are similar as mine – and I’m really looking forward to the last ten games.”
The young Gers were rampant in a 6-3 triumph over Hearts in their final pre-split fixture.
Only Aberdeen have scored more times than the Light Blues this campaign and, in the main, Smith has been pleased at the consistency that his side have shown.
He added: “We speak a lot about momentum being a big thing. One thing I challenged them when I first came into this job was consistency.
“We also know it’s going to be tough and there will be difficult games in there.
“We’ve had tough games throughout the course of the year, but when it comes down to this part of the year then you can begin to tick them off.
“We’re going to max it out for the last ten games of the season.
“We went up to Aberdeen last week and it was a tough; Hibs was tough too. We’ve all have tough games against them all.
“We’re under no illusions about how tough it’s going to be, but we know the expectations from our side.”
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