Barry Ferguson insists Rangers cannot allow Celtic to overtake their title haul as Ange Postecoglou's side close in on a treble.
A Scottish Cup win and a title confirmation would see the Parkhead side reach 116 trophies, just one behind Rangers' 117.
Celtic have won 52 league titles, 40 Scottish Cups, 21 League Cups and famously, a European Cup in 1967.
Rangers have won 55 top-flight titles, 34 Scottish Cups, 27 League Cups and the 1972 European Cup-Winners Cup.
On the prospect of Celtic overtaking Rangers, Ferguson wrote in the Daily Record: "There is a gap but it’s nowhere near as large as it’s been claimed and as for Celtic beating my old club to the 56 titles landmark? That can’t be allowed to happen.
"No Rangers team should require extra motivation to win a league but that incentive alone makes it imperative the league flag is returned to Ibrox next season.
"Michael Beale has already spoken about the size of the rebuild and admitted it’ll be the largest for years so that tells you what’s being planned and I’m genuinely excited by it."
Ferguson also commented on the current revamp of the Rangers board. In recent weeks Douglas Park, Stewart Robertson and Ross Wilson have all left the club, and Ferguson this could be an important refresh for the club as a whole.
He added: "The revamp is also in full flow off the field and it suggests the new chairman John Bennett wants a freshness introduced across the boardroom and within the football department.
"Change shouldn’t be looked at negatively, with change you get new ideas and energy brought to the table so it’s no bad thing.
"John’s predecessor Douglas Park has done his time and Stewart Roberson will be replaced by James Bisgrove as CEO in the summer and now we’ve heard that Andrew Dickson, director of finance and football administration, is also moving on. Andrew is someone I know well and was brought in by David Murray in the early 1990s
"Director of football Ross Wilson is away to Nottingham Forest and Craig Mulholland will also leave after being head of the academy and all of these guys have been at the club for a number of years and have all played their part.
"The bottom line is the chairman believes it’s not only on the pitch where a revamp is required, we have every aspect of the running of the club being looked at and changes being made. Personally, I like what I am seeing.
"It will add a freshness, a new energy and ideas to drive Rangers forward. Football clubs must always adapt, all of these individuals who are leaving will be shaken by the hand and thanked for the part they’ve played and others will now come in and we could see things moving in a different direction with different ideas.
"Sometimes if you have been part of the furniture for a long time you need to take a step back and admit it’s time for someone else to come in and that’s maybe the case with someone like Craig."
