STEVEN GERRARD has backed Rangers to rise to the occasion and become Hampden heroes as the Light Blues attempt to halt Celtic’s bid for ten-in-a-row.

Rangers head into the Betfred Cup final as the underdogs against the treble Treble winners but have their sights set on a first major trophy win for eight years after an encouraging start to the campaign.

Gerrard has seen his side make impressive strides forward over the last 18 months and a draw against Young Boys on Thursday night would take the Gers into the Europa League knockout rounds.

But the quest for domestic silverware is all that matters tomorrow afternoon when the Old Firm go head-to-head with very different recent records and very different pressures on their shoulders.

Gerrard said: “I’ve always got confidence in my team. They are human beings and they are not always going to hit the heights that I’m trying to drive every single game.

“But more often than not, when facing a tough challenge, we have done ever so well. We have had some good rehearsals recently, Porto away and home, Feyenoord away and home.

“The level of this game shouldn’t shock us. But you still have to make you sure you go out and execute and play your part.

“Of course [it would be great to stop ten trophies in-a-row], and that’s what excites me. That’s the opportunity we have given ourselves by getting to this stage.

“Last year we never gave ourselves that opportunity. This year there has been progress but now we have to go and try to grab it and grasp it.

“That’s the chance you have to give yourself to start. But the hardest bit is to get over the line and that last hurdle, especially against a team like this.

“It is some record, but at the beginning of it you have to respect where Rangers were.”