OPINION
After seeing his side demolish Kilmarnock 5-0 in the Scottish Cup in midweek Rangers boss Steven Gerrard knows he has to ride the wave of success to get their Premiership campaign back on track.
The next side standing in the way of the Light Blues are Hamilton on Sunday afternoon and there will be some temptation from the Ibrox boss to stick as closely to the same side that blew Killie away.
However, with Alfredo Morelos, who scored four of his side’s five in midweek, still banned it leaves a gaping void up front and one which must be filled by not one but two men in the shape of Kyle Lafferty and Jermain Defoe.
The duo should be two of four changes, Morelos and fellow mainstay Daniel Candeias the ones dropping out, while Wes Foderingham and Joe Worrall should also find themselves benched as Allan McGregor and Nikola Katic take their places.
Back from his own suspension, goalkeeper McGregor is firmly the first choice between the sticks, while Gerrard should give Katic a chance to prove himself in place of the perpetually worrying Worrall.
The midfield trio of Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Scott Arfield worked a treat against Kilmarnock and there is no reason to suggest they should be changed, unlike up front.
It has been proven that Defoe works best with a partner than by himself and so turning to 6’4″ giant Lafferty (source: Transfermarkt) to act as the foil to the English goal poacher is an absolute must.
It would only be the Northern Irish international’s sixth league start for the Gers this season but his experience and physicality alongside Defoe would make them a dangerous duo.
With Ryan Kent moving infield as a winger/second striker, the trio could all overlap with one another to cause absolute havoc at the back and make sure that Hamilton are destroyed in the same manner Killie were in their last outing.