Derek McInnes returns to Gorgie this midweek as his side take one last season's upstarts who finished above them, under the 55-year-old's stewardship.

Now under Wouter Vrancken, the capital side are four points behind Rangers going into this one and a home victory could make things interesting. However, an away victory would open up a gap and keep them at bay.

That would obviously be the desired out come for all of a Rangers persuasion and Ferguson feels it would send out a statement.

Speaking in the Daily Record, he said: When Rangers turn up at Tynecastle on Wednesday night Derek McInnes and his players will be looking to send out a very clear message: 'It’s not going to happen again. This season, third place is as good as it’s going to get.'

"Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think for a minute that it’s going to be easy.

"I fully expect that Hearts will come after Rangers from the first whistle. The stadium will be rammed, the atmosphere will be electric and there’s every chance it could develop into a good old fashioned fist fight of a football match.

"Good. Bring it on. That’s exactly the way it should be whenever Rangers go there and it certainly won’t come as a surprise to the team or to the manager and his staff, of all people.

"But if Rangers want to prove that they are serious contenders this season then they have to go through there and find a way of coming back across the country with three more points in the bag.

"Win it and they’ll open up a seven point gap against a team that finished above them last season. Lose it and it’s down to just the one.

"And then, quite rightly, people will be talking about a three way fight at the top of the table all over again.

"So this is a mouthwatering opportunity for Derek and the players to make a statement and one they have to grasp."

McInnes' men thumped St Johnstone at the weekend playing an attacking formation with two strikers, Kevin Kelsy and Ryan Naderi, and two front-foot wingers, Badredine Bouanani and Min-su Kin.

Ferguson accepts it woud be high-risk to adopt the same approach at Tynecastle, but it is what he wants to see.

He added: "This may sound like a high risk approach for a visit to Tynecastle but I strongly suspect Del will stick with the same attacking formation because he has the players to make it work whether it’s at home or away.

"I think Del will be tempted to go with the same formation

"The secret to playing with a front four is to make sure you have two very disciplined operators in the heart of midfield. Nico Raskin and Dan Neil have to be prepared to sit in there and take care of things, to allow the other guys to get forward and make things happen. To cause chaos in the final third.

"That’s got to be the aim at Tynecastle too even though the pitch is a bit tighter and Hearts will come at them with all guns blazing.

"But this formation really suits Rangers - and they have to go there looking to make a statement."