ROSS and Robby McCrorie have lofty dreams about becoming the first set of twins in history to play for the Scotland international team.

But first they have to convince their paymasters at Rangers that they are worthy of a chance at club level.

Ross, a central defender who is the elder brother by all of 12 minutes, and Robby, a highly-rated young goalkeeper, are both involved in Scot Gemmill's Scotland Under-17 squad which will take on their Romanian counterparts in a friendly at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, tonight. The match was moved last night due to a waterlogged pitch at the original venue of Somerset Park, Ayr.

There are differing opinions as to whether this is a good time or bad time to be a young player coming through at Murray Park. While Andy Murdoch has grasped the chance presented by a misfiring set of senior professionals in the last few matches, Charlie Telfer decided the grass was probably greener elsewhere and jumped ship for Dundee United.

Rest assured there is no shortage of other sides keen to take the McCrorie clan off the club's hands. Hours before the twins signed a pre-contract committing them to Rangers on their sixteenth birthday, Sunderland made a last gasp attempt to persuade them to rethink, while Manchester United and Manchester City have also been credited with an interest.

Yet Robby - who showed maturity above his years during Scotland's triumphant Victory Shield win in 2013, not to mention reaching the last four of the European Under-17 championships in Malta this summer - remains essentially fifth in the Ibrox pecking order, behind Cammy Bell, Steve Simonsen, Lee Robinson and Liam Kelly. Having spent his early years, literally and metaphorically, in his twin's shadow, Ross has also made giant strides this season.

"Both of us have had offers," Robby said last night. "It is good for us that people have noticed what we have been doing but Rangers have been faithful to us. We have grown up as Rangers fans and it is important to me that I can get my debut here and get experience in the first team.

"When you're a young player you want to make your debut as soon as you can," he added. "So at first you are annoyed that more keepers came in, but you need to know your place. We train with them and can see they're good players. It's up to me and Ross to keep working hard to make sure the first team coaching staff notice us. We don't know if the team will get promoted or not but I hope to make my debut within a couple of years. We know that if we work hard the opportunities will come along."

Ross, a converted striker who played 120 minutes against St Johnstone as the Ibrox club reached the semi-finals of the SFA youth cup on Sunday, will be rested tonight, with a further closed doors match, again against Romania, to follow on Thursday. The matches, a final warm-up for European Championship elite round matches in Hungary in March, could also feature the likes of Harry Souttar, younger brother of United player John, a 6ft 6in centre half, and Brandon Kerr, the goalkeeper son of former Celtic stopper Stewart.

Talk of telephathic understandings is common in football but the McCrorie's feel that really is the case. "If we could become the first twins to play together at international level," said Robby, "that would be a great thing for our family, and us. It sounds weird but on the pitch we can read each other's minds a wee bit."

"It doesn't stop us arguing though," deadpans his twin brother.