Motherwell captain Stephen O'Donnell says the Steelmen can take heart from last month's draw with Rangers - but reckons a rougher encounter could beckon at Fir Park.
Graham Alexander's side drew 1-1 at Ibrox on Rangers' Premiership flag day and they host Steven Gerrard's team this Sunday.
The Fir Park club are without a win in four league games but finished the first rotation of league matches with a draw against St Mirren on Wednesday, remaining in the top six.
O'Donnell was impressed in particular by Motherwell's first showing against Rangers, and he hopes for some luck this time around. Fashion Sakala netted for Gerrard in September's match but it appeared offside.
"We'll maybe make it uglier," said O'Donnell ahead of the Halloween kick-off. "We'll maybe get a couple more bits in the game that we finish or do better in.
"We then possibly get the rub of the green with decisions, which I think cost us in that game with the corner. Rangers are a good side.
"They will have a lot of the ball. But if we can hit them with our threats, we have a right good chance."
Motherwell will play their third game in eight days against Rangers, off the back of a defeat to Dundee United and draw against St Mirren.
"We have had a very good start over the course of the first quarter," added O'Donnell. "To be in the top six is great and where we want to be, but we certainly need to perform on a personal level better than (Wednesday).
"Things can play a part but we know we could have been better.
"But we go into the game against Rangers on Sunday with optimism because we are sitting in the top six and we will hopefully perform better and get results.
“Football is a funny game. We got a point on Wednesday night but I thought against Dundee United we deserved far more.
“But that’s football, you just want to make sure you have a structure in place that means you will get more positive results over the course."
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