STEVEN SMITH reckons Rangers will ask title questions of Old Firm rivals Celtic as long as they remain within touching distance at the top of the Premiership.

The Light Blues are six points adrift of Brendan Rodgers’ side ahead of the visit of St Johnstone this weekend as they return to league duty following their Scottish Cup stalemate with Kilmarnock.

Celtic have eased to successive titles under Rodgers’ guidance but former Ibrox star Smith hopes they won’t have it all their own way as Rangers bid to stop eight-in-a-row.

He told Herald Sport: “It is interesting. There is definitely a challenge there from Rangers now, which is good, and they are going to places like Aberdeen and winning.

“As long as they keep that gap what it is just now and don’t let it get any bigger, I think there will be a title race right down to the wire.

“There is always pressure when you play for Rangers or Celtic but I think when you are getting a challenge from the other side of the Old Firm, that is different than getting a challenge from Aberdeen or Kilmarnock.

“The pressure of having an Old Firm rival pushing you for the title is a different pressure and Celtic haven’t had that pressure for a while, the manager and the players haven’t been under that. So it will be interesting to see how they deal with it.

“As long as Rangers keep the gap to six points and keep winning, just focus on each game as it comes, I think it will be interesting right down to the wire.”

Rangers moved level on points with Celtic by winning the second derby clash of the campaign at Ibrox in December but ground was quickly lost as they were beaten by Killie and Rodgers’ side won their game in hand.

But Smith reckons there will still be confidence within Steven Gerrard’s ranks ahead of a crucial run of fixtures leading into the next Old Firm showdown.

He said: “Rangers have experienced players in the changing room but they have got a manager that is ruthless and relentless and knows what his goals are.

“The signings of Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis in the window told me that Rangers believe they can win the title, especially after the high of the Old Firm game.

“They didn’t see the disappointment of the Kilmarnock game coming but that window told me that Rangers think they can challenge for the title.

“In terms of the progress they make, if they are challenging for the title, challenging for the Scottish Cup, that is important and then they can look to kick on next year.

“But while you have that gap as it is, anything can happen in the last few weeks of the season and it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.”