We are 90 minutes away from finding out which club will complete the SPFL Premiership next season.

Will Motherwell, who hold a 3-1 lead from the first leg of the play-off final, stay in the top division? Or will Rangers stage an unlikely comeback and prevail at Fir Park? Chief football writer Matthew Lindsay looks ahead to the encounter . . .

PIVOTAL PLAYERS

To say Kris Boyd's return to Rangers this season hasn't worked out as he, and many others, had hoped it would is an understatement. Great things were expected of the former Scotland internationalist when he signed for the Ibrox club for a second time last summer. Particularly as his old strike partner Kenny Miller had come back for an unprecedented third stint at around the same time.

However, the 31-year-old has failed to display the goalscoring form of his previous trophy-laden spell at his childhood heroes or, for that matter, replicate his exploits with Kilmarnock last season when he netted 22 times to almost single-handedly ensure the Rugby Park club avoided relegation from the top flight.

Boyd, though, is set to be handed a chance to finish a disappointing campaign on a high in the second leg of the SPFL Premiership play-off with Motherwell at Fir Park this afternoon. He came on in the first leg on Thursday evening and looked dangerous. He had a goal chalked off for offside and was denied by a superb save from opposition keeper George Long.

There is a suspicion the forward was denied the service he needed to make his mark when first Ally McCoist and then Kenny McDowall were at the helm. The team has certainly improved under Stuart McCall and is creating chances in the final third of the park which previously they weren't.

On Thursday night Rangers lacked a cutting edge up front. Miller, in his typical industrious fashion, worked tirelessly to eke out an opening or convert a chance. Nicky Clark, meanwhile, struggled to make an impression. So it will be interesting to see what difference the fans' favourite makes if he is recalled.

For Motherwell, another striker will be key. Lee Erwin performed intelligently in the first leg. He scored the opening goal, with a little help from Rangers centre half Darren McGregor, and was heavily involved in all of his dominant team's best attacking moves. It was no surprise when he was linked with a summer move to Leeds United in the aftermath of the match.

Erwin's fellow forwards Lionel Ainsworth and Scott McDonald caused McCall's charges serious difficulties whenever they took possession. Their confidence will be high entering the match after probably their best collective performance of the entire 2014/15 campaign.

KEY BATTLE

Seeing how Kris Boyd fares against his old sparring partner Stephen McManus will be fascinating. The two have squared up to each other on numerous occasions in the past when Boyd was at Rangers and Kilmarnock and during McManus's spells with Celtic and Motherwell.

They were also, albeit briefly, team mates together with Middlesbrough. They will know each other's games well, will understand their respective strengths and weaknesses. Watching who comes out on top in their personal duel will be one of the highlights of what is already an intriguing encounter.

At the same time, much will hinge on how the new Rangers central defensive partnership deals with Erwin. McGregor is suspended after picking up his sixth booking of the season in the second leg of the play-off quarter-final. Either Lee McCulloch of Bilel Mohsni will take over from him.

Until Thursday night, McGregor has formed a decent partnership with Marius Zaliukas. It is debatable that McCulloch, whose recent performances have left much to be desired, or Mohsni, who is highly erratic and can always be counted on to do something irregular, will do as well alongside the Lithuanian.

TACTICAL BATTLE

The game today should go along similar lines to the first leg. Motherwell will sit back and protect their lead. Holding midfielder Keith Lasley will sit just in front of the defence and make it difficult for Rangers to create any openings for their strikers. Ian Barclough's team will once again look to punish their opponents on the counter attack.

Rangers have to do better in midfield. Both Andy Murdoch and Dean Shiels struggled to assert themselves during the week. Much will depend on whether McCall makes changes in that area or gives them the duo a chance to make amends for their disappointing outing.

It is doubtful the Ibrox club will, despite this game coming at the end of a long, wearying campaign, be as bad again. But will their makeshift defence be able to cope with the threat posed by their experienced rivals in attack?

SCORE PREDICTION

Motherwell 2, Rangers 2.