THE talking has been done behind the scenes. Now Rangers need to do it on the park and prove that actions speak louder than words at Ibrox.
The final weekend before the international break provided Giovanni van Bronckhorst with an unexpected boost as Celtic stumbled against St Mirren and the gap in the Premiership title race was cut to just two points.
It is a deficit that Rangers will look to overcome against Hearts this afternoon and top spot in the standings could be theirs, albeit briefly before Celtic host Motherwell later in the day, just weeks after the damaging Old Firm defeat at Parkhead.
That demoralising derby was the low point of the campaign so far for Rangers and it will surely have formed the basis for many of the discussions that Van Bronckhorst and his staff have initiated with their players since the win over Dundee United.
Ryan Jack took a welcome break from domestic duties to play his part in Scotland's Nations League successes. The focus once again is on matters at Ibrox as Rangers aim to find personal and collective gains sooner rather than later.
"I definitely think there’s a lot for us to improve on," Jack said. "We’ve had meetings over the last couple of weeks - players, staff and individually.
"Make no mistake, there is a lot for us to improve on individually and collectively. If we want to get where we want to be come the end of the season, challenging in all competitions, then we are going to have to improve and keep improving.
"The demands and the standards of the club are really high so for us players it’s important that we focus on meeting those demands.
"We have had the international break. We can reflect and refocus and hopefully moving forward we can put a good run together.
"To be honest, it’s not one spot. It’s defensively as a team, attacking as a team. The goals we are scoring, the goals we are conceding.
"Reviewing everything, reviewing set-plays. It’s just about everything. It’s not really abnormal.
"When results have been tough or performances haven’t been great, it’s always important that you reflect and look at why. You try to find out why and take that on to the training pitch.
"That’s really all we’ve done. We’ve had a wee international break for boys to keep training here and boys have been away with their countries. We’re all back together now and the full focus is on the weekend."
The run between now and the World Cup break in November is uninterrupted for Rangers. It could also be defining on and off the park.
This sequence must be the foundation upon which a title challenge is built as potential champions attempt to lay down a marker of their intention to be more than just challengers.
And a tricky away fixture at Tynecastle is exactly the kind of test that Van Bronckhorst's side have to prove that they are capable of overcoming this term.
Jack said: “It’s three points that are at stake for us. We just try and focus on each individual game.
“We know if we go on a consistent run, putting together a consistent run of performances too, it will take us to where we want to be.
“[The Hearts game] is just another step in trying to achieve that. It’s always a tough game at Tynecastle. They are a good side and they will be up for it.
“We need to try and match that. On the flip side, we need to play our game and show our ability. If we do that I’m sure it will be a good afternoon.
"There are always aims and goals. You always try to look forward. This is a very tough match for us.
"Hearts at Tynecastle is always a tough one. It’s always a good crowd and it’s right on top of you. We were expecting a tough game.
"We know that, if we win, we go top of the league, but there is a long way to go. It’s still early days in the season and nothing is going to be won in the next four weeks.
"It’s important that we put a good run together and focus on each game as it comes. If we do that, it will take us to where we want to be."
Jack needs no reminding about the trials and tribulations of a title race and he is one of the most experienced members of the squad that Van Bronckhorst is aiming to lead to silverware this term.
The coming months could prove to be his last at Ibrox. The 30-year-old is out of contract in the summer but feels he is in the right shape to keep proving his worth in the middle of the park.
“I am feeling good," Jack said. "At the end of last season I picked up an injury in the cup final.
“I missed out on the summer Scotland camps and, as a result, my start to pre-season was a bit slower than I had hoped.
“I was a wee bit behind, but I am up and running and I feel fully fit now.
“Hopefully I can put a good run of games together and start showing that in performances.
“Nothing has been spoken about to myself or my agent [over a new contract]. Just now my focus is on getting a good run in the team.
“If I am playing consistently well, whatever happens on the back of that, happens."
