BILEL Mohsni is in agreement with his manager when it comes to the imperative of cutting out the mistakes in his game, but they don't see eye-to-eye on absolutely everything.

One source of discord, for example, is tomorrow night's opponents Hibs. Considering the efficiency of the Easter Road club's showing at Ibrox on Petrofac Cup duty in early August - they lost 2-1 in extra-time after the dismissal of Daniel Handling - both men are somewhat surprised to see Alan Stubbs' side already trailing them by seven points, and their city rivals Hearts by even more, in the SPFL Championship.

But while the Tunisian central defender dismisses them as Championship title contenders, Ally McCoist isn't quite so sure.

"I'm surprised to see Hibs struggle after seeing them playing so well but every team when they play against us gives 100 per cent, so that was probably their best," said Mohsni.

"The league is hard and I can understand why they are struggling. We're just at the start of the league but I think it is going to be between us and Hearts who will fight for first place. And maybe Queen Of The South, Raith Rovers and, of course, Hibs can still do the play-offs. But they have a lot to do. It is surprising for me because I expected the three teams [Rangers, Hearts and Hibs] to fight for the top of the league."

McCoist, on the other hand, is far more circumspect when he assesses the prospect of Hibernian joining their Edinburgh rivals as genuine title contenders. "For a period of that game, Hibs were the best team we've played this year," the Rangers manager said.

"Before the sending- off, they played a lot of good football so they'll come back, they'll be there. They're too good a team and too big a club not to."

Mohsni has come to be regarded as something of a lovable liability by the Ibrox regulars, the closest thing the club have had to a cult hero since they began their lower league rehabilitation.

He freely jokes that mistakes, such as one against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the League Cup which almost led to a Billy Mckay goal, give his manager palpitations. But he is nonetheless regarded in high enough esteem to hold down a place with the 31st best team in international football.

"The manager says I gave him a heart attack," explained Mohsni. "I am a footballer who is taught to pass. So when I kick the ball and clear it is because the manager has told me to be solid and not take risks. But this is the job and I have to do it."

After losing at home to Hearts, Rangers have quietly gone nine matches unbeaten, a run which includes eight wins and last week's scrappy draw away to Alloa, with Moshni ever present in the side. His manager sees a bit of Madjid Bougherra in both the way he plays on the field and his manner off it, and feels he has become a focal point of discussion for fans of the club.

"Bilel brings a lot to the party and I think the whole package makes him a big lovable character that everybody wants to do well," said McCoist. "The fans get frustrated with him at times and pull their hair out, but I love the fact that he has become a bit of a cult hero for our supporters. They maybe haven't had someone they can identify with or discuss for an hour in the pub afterwards over a pint."

On the topic of Hibs' title challenge, manager Stubbs isn't exactly giving up, even if he regards Rangers as the favourites. "I didn't set any targets at the beginning of the season," Stubbs said. "Yes, we would like to be closer to the teams at the top of the league than we are but I'd rather be closer at the end of the season than now.

"Rangers obviously have a significant wage bill compared to anybody else. That brings the expectation of winning the league. If I had that wage bill I know what the expectations would be from the people above. I haven't - but I still want to try to win the league."