Reece McAlear believes St Johnstone can take encouragement from Tayside neighbours Dundee when they travel to Ibrox on Saturday.

The Dark Blues were good value for their 2-2 draw with Derek McInnes' side at Dens Park last Saturday night.

Saints midfielder McAlear said: "Rangers at home are obviously a wee bit different, heavily backed.

"But Dundee took two goals off them and that's a positive. They can score goals but they also can concede goals.

"I am looking forward to it, playing in front of a big crowd in a big stadium.

"We've come a long way in our performances but still can get better.

"We are a tight group as well, we kept some good core of players from last year which is very important.

"When we got promoted last year, these were the type of games we wanted to play in, the big games.

"But everyone in the dressing room will be the exact same. Buzzing to play in these games, these are the games everyone wants to play in."

St Johnstone have made an impressive start to the season and are sitting fifth in the table.

McAlear said: "I think teams are going to think we are going to come into the league and lay down to them but it's not been quite that.

"Everybody in the team is proving a point, whether they belong at this level or not.

"Have we surprised people? Probably but that's what we want to do as well. We have players in the building that suit the way we play.

"We have good players that were too good for the Championship but this is where the test comes."