CRAIG Moore has experienced the full gamut of emotions during his seven years at Rangers; from the humiliation of being booed by his own supporters to the elation of coming back after a two-month, injury-induced lay-off to lift the Scottish Cup.

To plagiarise from the late Frank Sinatra, mistakes, he's made a few, but the ability to pick himself up and get back in the race has proved ultimately rewarding for the Australian, who might not be able to rival Ol' Blue Eyes for comebacks, but is doing not bad in a fraction of the time.

Having already seen off the challenge of Scotland captain Colin Hendry, the much-heralded Braveheart who was forced to retreat back across the Border after fighting a losing battle for a regular place, it now appears the 24-year-old will take over from club captain Lorenzo Amoruso, with the Italian currently nursing not only the injury sustained, ironically, in an accidental collision with Moore while playing against St Johnstone last season, but also his damaged pride after failing to engineer a new contract from his employers.

With Amoruso out for the big kick-off - and possibly out of the door - along with vice-captain Arthur Numan, who injured his foot during the European Championships, Moore has emerged as the favourite to wear the captain's armband, a remarkable turnaround for a player who was substituted midway through the first half of the opening game of last season, against Kilmarnock.

He endured a dreadful start to his second spell at Ibrox, damaging knee ligaments shortly after returning from an unhappy stint at Crystal Palace,.

His misery continued with some shaky performances against FC Haka in the Champions League, rounded off by his nightmare against Kilmarnock, but he found the strength of character to overcome those turbulent times and has not looked back.

''I was pleased with the way I reacted to the situation I found myself in at that time,'' he recalled during a break from the gruelling pre-season preparation in the Netherlands.

''I knew I would be facing a long spell out of the team if I did not do the business and that drove me on.''

That, of course, is nothing new to him. His confidence was destroyed when he was played at right back by former manager Walter Smith, his understandable discomfort in an alien position evoking no sympathy from the stands and it was not uncommon for any error to be met with a chorus of disapproval.

The views of the fickle fans have changed since, but, rather than being embittered, the 24-year-old is pragmatic about the past.

''Football is full of highs and lows and I have seen a lot since I made my Rangers debut, but I was pleased with the way I played last season and responded to what had happened. The aim is to carry that form over to this season and be as consistent as I can.

''I like pressure. It makes me perform a bit better, and there is certainly a lot of it in Scotland. I know Bert Konterman is coming in, but although I have heard a lot of speculation, all I know is that he had an operation at the end of the season and will be coming back soon.''

Moore was also hurt in the collision with Amoruso during that game at McDiarmid Park and had ruled himself out of the remainder of the season, but after having watched Sergio Porrini and Tony Vidmar struggle to form a watertight partnership at the end of the season, Advocaat gambled with Moore's fitness for the cup final with Aberdeen. It was a bold move that paid dividends.

''It was never even on my mind that I could have played in the cup final. I had been out for two months with an injury, and although I had resumed training it was with a view to getting fitter before the summer break,'' he said.

''The day before the game the gaffer spoke to me, and, before I knew it, I was playing in the cup final. It was great to play at Hampden, and it meant I ended the season on such a high, especially after I had ruled myself out from playing.''

With his international commitments cut back - he has declined, along with countryman Vidmar, an invitation to play a part in Australia's Confederations Cup bid - Moore will be able to concentrate on helping Rangers make an even greater impact in Europe, while, at the same time, trying to stay ahead of a Celtic side minus his countryman and close friend, Mark Viduka.

Last season's top scorer in the SPL has ended his turbulent stay at Parkhead by joining Leeds, pending an appeal for a work permit, and Moore admitted: ''I wish Mark all the best, but I'll be glad if I don't have to come up against him next season.''

''He has moved to a big club, and I'm sure he will cause problems for any Premiership defence, because he is a quality player.''

''I knocked back the chance to play in the Confederations Cup because I would be playing on hard pitches in places like Tahiti, which is not good for you, but I have the World Cup qualifiers in July, so the season will be long enough.

''Right now I feel good, but there are still a couple of weeks of pre-season left to fine-tune a few areas.

''The lads are getting better every day, training hard and playing games almost every day, and you can see it coming together for us.

''We have won five trophies out of six since Dick took over, but, you know what he's like, he was disappointed we let one slip, and this will be another important campaign for us.''

Leading out the team he joined as a 17-year-old for the first match of the new campaign would be a fitting reward for his perseverance over the years, but you will not find him bemoaning those trials and tribulations.

That's Life, after all.