Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson expects the Old Firm to finish well ahead of the chasing pack by the close of the Scottish Premier League season.

"I certainly do think teams have got better in and around the Old Firm," said Thomson.

"And if teams want to talk about challenging that's an incentive for us.

"I'm not going to say that Celtic and Rangers will finish 20-25 points clear of the rest, but I'd be pretty surprised if they're not."

Thomson's former club Hibernian are just four points behind leaders Celtic, while Dundee United are four adrift of second-placed Rangers.

But the 25-year-old was dismissive of a sustained challenge from Tannadice or Easter Road.

"I don't think many people would be betting on any team breaking the Old Firm this year," he added.

"I've been in a situation, at Hibs, when we've had good seasons and the hype goes on 'the Old Firm are in a crisis, blah, blah'."

Rangers can go top of the table if they win their rearranged match at Dundee United on Tuesday.

This season we might find it a fair bit closer than it has been in previous years Walter Smith Rangers manager

"We are eager to get to the top of the league and stay there," added Thompson. "And if we can get a run going and points in front going into the Old Firm game at the start of next year, it would be a psychological boost.

"We want don't want to be chasing. We've been in that situation over the last couple of years and it's tough. It means added pressure going into games."

Like Thomson, Rangers boss Walter Smith has been impressed by Hibs and Dundee United and he is taking greater heed to the threat to the Old Firm's long-established dominance.

"I don't think we'll see that kind of gap," said Smith when asked to comment on Thomson's thoughts.

"This season we might find it a fair bit closer than it has been in previous years.

"I said earlier that the challenge to both Hibs and Dundee United was to keep going and you've got to say that both teams are doing that. They're doing exceptionally well.

"At the weekend, they both got draws and people are saying 'that's it', but that will happen to all the teams.

"If it's going to be tighter, then there will be more points dropped by all the teams."

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