BARRY FERGUSON today warmed up for Rangers' showdown in Aberdeen and warned: "This will be as hard as Celtic."

The Granite City has reached fever pitch ahead of tomorrow's high noon clash between the clubs who sit second and third in the SPL.

Pittodrie is a 22,100 sell-out for the first time in a decade - and the reborn Reds believe they can scalp Paul Le Guen's men to move five points clear in the battle for Scotland's second Champions League qualifying spot.

Ferguson will again leave his team-mates in no doubt as to what is expected of them as Rangers try to build on fine back-to-back displays against Hibs and Celtic.

The Gers skipper - who is set to be man-marked by Dons kid Richard Foster - fired: "Up there is going to be as tough as the Celtic game. Aberdeen are having a great season and it's always a battle for Rangers at Pittodrie.

"Jimmy Calderwood, Jimmy Nicholl and Sandy Clark are doing a great job and they have some very good players throughout their team.

"It's a massive game, as we want to get above them and back into second place. I am sure it will be very exciting.

"Aberdeen's results speak for themselves and we need to go up there and be ready to give it everything to get the right result."

Ferguson has cautious optimism about Rangers' mini-revival that has seen them lose just once in the last eight games.

But victories in crunch clashes like tomorrow's are required to prove they have finally turned the corner.

"The league table doesn't lie and the best team is at the top and that is Celtic. It is now up to us to start producing the goods week in, week out," said Ferguson.

"It is no use doing it for one game and not doing it the next week. We've got to get a consistent run going.

"We can only start saying we're looking like a team when we're on an eight, nine or 10-game unbeaten run, but so far this season that hasn't happened.

"It is nothing to do with Celtic being strong - we've just not been good enough.

"The last three performances have been very good - Hibs, Partizan and Celtic - but we must keep it going."

The Dons are set to put Foster on Ferguson, as Calderwood revealed: "I rate Barry highly. He really is their main man and if we can stop him it would stop the flow of passes to front players.

"Richard has carried out a man-marking job on some of the best in the SPL.

"If we go down that route we know he can do it even though Barry is one of the best players in Scotland."

Gers look set to be without Stevie Smith after niggling back and groin injuries flared up again. Sasa Papac is likely to come in.