Stirling Albion head for Ibrox on Saturday with their management team of Greig McDonald and Marc McCulloch having signed new contracts until the end of next season.
The Binos have endured a difficult campaign but a dramatic recent improvement of just one defeat in the last nine matches have earned the pair a longer stay at Forthbank.
The play-offs look beyond seventh-placed Stirling but McDonald will hope his side can finish the campaign as strongly as possible and mount a serious top-four challenge next term.
Stirling had no game on Saturday and can now look forward to a live TV match for the first time in their history, with the Rangers clash live on ESPN at noon.
Operations Director Stuart Brown said: “On behalf of the executive board, I’m delighted to confirm that Greig and Marc will be at the helm for season 2013/14. Whilst there remains considerable uncertainty about what next season actually holds for Scottish football, I am in no doubt that we have the right management team in place to take us forward (and upwards) into the unknown.
“Whilst clearly their priority remains finishing the current campaign as strongly as possible, Greig and Marc have already started planning for next season and I will have further news on this front in due course.”
McDonald was last week named Irn-Bru Third Division Manager of the Month for February after an unbeaten streak of six matches and he hopes things are now firmly looking up.
He said: “The board deserve credit for their help as the easy thing would have been to pull the trigger on me when things weren’t going well. They helped us change things around in January and hopefully there are better times ahead for us all.”
Stirling’s last outing was the record-breaking 9-1 win over East Stirlingshire at Forthbank – they were idle at the weekend as their away game against Queen’s Park has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 2 due to the Communities League Cup final at Hampden.
They have twice shocked Rangers already this season, winning 1-0 at Forthbank in October and drawing 1-1 last month, and their previous visit to Ibrox was a narrow 2-0 reverse – even then, Josh Flood hit the post late on when it was only 1-0 to Ally McCoist’s team.
McDonald will have to do without banned duo Kieran McAnespie and Brian Allison but Gary Thom is back from suspension and David Crawford, Graham Weir and Ross McGeachie should return from injury.
Rangers are closing in on the Third Division title despite losing 2-1 to Annan in their last home game and needing a late penalty to get the better of Elgin at Borough Briggs on Saturday.
They can clinch the silverware this weekend – but not until later in the day. If Rangers beat Stirling at lunchtime and nearest challengers Queen’s Park fail to win at Annan, kick-off 3pm, then the championship will be secured but anything less will delay the inevitable for another week.
Tickets are still on sale for Saturday’s game at Ibrox from the club office. Prices are £17 adults, £13 concessions and £5 U16s. The office will be open from 3-8pm tomorrow (Thursday).
