KRIS BOYD today warned his Rangers team-mates they have a real scrap on their hands to win the SPL title.

Walter Smith's men were installed as favourites after they beat Old Firm rivals Celtic 4-2 at Parkhead last month.

However, they needed a Boyd double to come from behind and win Saturday's top-of-the-table showdown with Kilmarnock 2-1 at Ibrox. And Boyd, who has now scored three times this season, feels the weekend battle for points proves every team in the top flight is capable of giving them a major scare.

He said: "All credit to Kilmarnock, they came to Ibrox at the weekend, had a real go, put us under pressure and deservedly went a goal ahead.

"We have to realise teams are going to come to Ibrox, sit in and try to make life difficult for us. Kilmarnock felt they had a chance of getting something. They very nearly did.

"Three years ago when I was playing for Killie, Rangers were spending top money on top international players. It was difficult to compete with them.

"No disrespect to any of the players at Rangers now, but the club spent £12m to bring Tore Andre Flo to Scotland.

"Other Scottish clubs, who didn't have that sort of money to spend and relied a lot on bringing through their own players, found it impossible to match that spending.

"Now the gap between the Old Firm and the other teams in the SPL is not as great. Any team in this division, not just Celtic, is good enough to give us a game.

"Motherwell will be disappointed with their result against Celtic and will give us a really hard game when they come to Ibrox on Sunday."

Boyd, dropped from the Rangers squad altogether for the Old Firm game a fortnight ago, is hoping he will be a regular starter after his double against Killie.

Kris admitted: "I was disappointed not to be involved in the Old Firm match. But I can't have any complaints because the team won the game comfortably.

"Like every player, I want to be involved in every game, but I know I need to work hard to get into the team regularly.

"The best way of ensuring I do that is by scoring. I want to stay a part of the team and built on the two goals I scored at the weekend - starting against Motherwell."

Meanwhile, Smith has a selection headache for this Sunday's league game with Motherwell after Sasa Papac got himself suspended.

With Stevie Smith and Steven Whittaker both out injured, Smith has no specialist left back to replace Papac, ordered off for a second bookable offence against Killie.

However, both Kevin Thomson and Kyle Lafferty should be available again.