STEVEN WHITTAKER has vowed to nail a place in Sunday's Old Firm Co-op Cup Final after his impressive run-out in Rangers romp over Hamilton Accies.

The Ibrox side breezed past Accies 5-1 to book a Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-final meeting with St Mirren next month - but it is this weekend that is heavy on Whittaker's mind.

The defender has cut a frustrated figure this season as he has struggled to sustain a run in the first team, but he is desperate to stay in Walter Smith's plans - starting with this weekend when he wants a crack at Celtic as the first silveware of the season goes on the line.

"Of course I am desperate to play in it," Whittaker said. "I have not had a lot of playing time lately and yesterday was a big chance for me.

"To get the opening goal in what was a good team performance and what was, I felt, a decent individual performance, was big for me and I just hope that I get the chance to take that into next week.

"I put us one up and when you do that early in a game it gives you a lot of confidence.

"It helped me relax a bit and I felt that my game came on from that.

"Hopefully at the very least I have put my name into the manager's thoughts for the game against Celtic.

"I just hope that I can use yesterday's win as a stepping stone to staying in the team and playing a part between now and the end of the season."

Meanwhile, centre-half Madjid Bougherra should be available for the final despite limping off towards the end of his team's victory over Hamilton.

Pedro Mendes and Lee McCulloch are expected to be fit and Nacho Novo, who sat out the Accies game, is also hoping to declare himself able to play.

Left-back Sasa Papac will miss his team's Scottish Cup semi-final with the Buddies after picking up a booking late on against Hamilton and getting a one-match suspension.