IT is one game at a time. On this occasion, that is not a cliché, it is a way of life for Graeme Murty.

The 42-year-old has been here before. Last season, he was in charge of six matches as he inherited power from Mark Warburton and handed it over to Pedro Caixinha.

Now, he has assumed it from the Portuguese and has been tasked with smoothing the transition before the next manager of Rangers is appointed.

A trip to Murrayfield to face Hearts this afternoon is the first game that awaits Murty and the first challenge that Rangers must overcome post Caixinha. It is the only one the interim boss is focused on.

“That’s another good lesson that I won’t be able to do this on my own,” Murty said.

“There was a fantastic staff working with me and I will be leaning on them heavily to make sure we give the players what they need.

“First of all, I’m deeply honoured by the board for asking me.

“I don’t think anyone who steps into this seat should ever feel comfortable, they should feel as though it is a massive challenge and a massive honour. I feel that a lot, but I know the people I have behind me.

“The experiences that they have and I am confident I can give the players what they need.

“But we have to make sure it doesn’t turn into a side-show. The main thing is the game and it will be.

“Everything is geared towards the game and making sure they are prepared.”

Murty won three of the half-a-dozen fixtures that he took charge of last term but the victories against Morton, St Johnstone and Hamilton didn’t provide the most memorable moments.

It was the game at Parkhead, his last one at the helm, which gave supporters a rare silver lining as the dark clouds hung over the Gers throughout a nightmare campaign.

A Clint Hill equaliser earned Rangers an Old Firm draw. The experience was more valuable than the Premiership point, though.

“The colours, the sound, how vivid it is, still,” Murty said as he recalled derby day back in March.

“More than anything, the lessons I learned about myself and about this football club from that day.

“I would be a Grade A fool not to remember those and draw on those. They are informed my practice as I go and my development now.

“I will be using some of those things as I move forward in this role at the moment.

“I learned that the players when they walk onto that pitch need to be together, they need to have a manner of playing, an identity and a togetherness.

“I need to be able to remove myself at times to give the players what they need.

“It’s about giving players what they need and getting rid of any emotion that I have.

“It’s about giving the players what they need to go and play.

“That was difficult at Celtic Park, but it was something I’m really proud of that we did.

“It was a fantastic staff that I worked with and I am really grateful to them.”

Nobody – from the Ibrox boardroom to the stands or the dugout – would have imagined that Murty would be back in charge just seven months after Caixinha was unveiled as Warburton’s successor.

The loss to Motherwell and draw with Kilmarnock proved to be Caixinha’s final games in charge as Dave King and his board brought the curtain down on a tumultuous tenure.

Murty’s focus had reverted back to the Light Blues’ Under-20s in recent months, but now he will find himself on the touchline at Murrayfield this afternoon.

Murty said: “It was really hectic because we have changed a great deal in the Academy.

“We have changed the games programme for the Under-20, we have changed the training programme for the Under-20s, we have made sure they are getting a fantastic challenge.

“I have been very, very, very busy and now I have a different challenge.

“I was ready to go and give a team-talk to a team that was going to play Liverpool at Ibrox.

“I was, potentially, going to be standing on the sidelines with Steven Gerrard.

“Now I have a different challenge and that is the reality, it is now just something that I have to go and deal with and someone else had that other opportunity.”

Murty is well aware of the chance that he has been given, but the future remains shrouded in uncertainty.

Only time will tell how many games he takes charge of and how long it be will before the Ibrox board complete another recruitment drive.

The Light Blue legions were impressed with Murty’s contribution first time around, but the former Reading and Southampton defender will only focus on the here and now.

Murty said: “When I catch a breath I’ll let you know [if I am interested in the job]. At the moment it’s been too much.

“I’m just looking to make sure that this bit is done. If I look too far into the future I’ll trip over this bit.

“I need to make sure I get [today] by with then get the week planned so the players can get on. I’m not thinking about myself at the minute.

“The best scenario for myself is to go and do really well. To win Saturday’s game, to win the next one, for the football club.

“If that means that I learn more and I become better then great.

“I’m getting credit from one side and not so much from the other side which is kind of par for the course.

“Continuing goodwill from the fans is earned daily. You can’t look back at what you did six months ago, a year ago or 18 months ago.

“You have to go and earn it every day. It’s only rented off them. We need to make sure we go and earn it off them every day and in every single game.”