Dundee will have to end a 17-year Ibrox drought if they are to pick up their first Premiership points of the campaign on Saturday.
And if that doesn’t clarify the size of the task facing Neil McCann’s beleaguered team, the knowledge each of the 11 visits to Govan since have ended in defeat surely does.
The Dark Blues’ last success away to the Gers came in March 2001, during the heady days of Ivano Bonetti’s reign as manager.
That night the team was packed with stars like Claudio Caniggia, Georgi Nemsadze and Juan Sara, and it was Argentine superstar Caniggia who got the vital opening goal.
Substitute Steven Milne struck the second in the dying seconds to secure a win that was vital in confirming the Bonetti team’s top-six place in what was the first season of the top flight splitting.
The combination of results in Govan since and the circumstances of both teams right now suggest there is little reason for Dee fans heading through to do so with much hope.
As well as being pointless, Dundee appeared bereft of any confidence as they were well beaten by Motherwell at Dens in their last outing.
The manager will have worked on that during the past two weeks without a game and also towards eliminating the errors that have been so costly so far this term.
And his belief in his squad, something he insists has not wavered, should have increased by the chance to get down to work with the new signings he brought in on transfer deadline today.
That process could see an almost entirely new back four in place on Saturday.
Loan men Ryan Inniss, at centre- half, and left-back Calvin Miller, both did enough when coming on for debuts against ’Well to suggest their next appearances will be from the start.
Andy Boyle, another centre–half, did not get on against the Steelmen but has come up on loan from Preston North End to get game time and few will be surprised if he and Inniss form the heart of the defence this weekend.
That could leave Jesse Curran, himself a rookie at this level, the only survivor from the rearguard that was fielded for the opening top flight fixture at St Mirren just five games ago.
In fairness to the young Australian, his performances have arguably been the one ray of light in what have been a dark opening couple of months to the season, particularly as he’s only been converted from midfielder to right-back in recent times.
Ibrox would be the 22-year-old’s biggest test to date but there is no question he’s earned the right to be running out there.
If the reshaping of the defence and other areas of the line-up gives some, albeit feint, hope for Dundee, the Rangers’ situation right now makes any kind of success for their visitors seem even more unlikely.
There is no doubt that under Steven Gerrard the Gers are a vastly-improved side. In terms of organisation and the personnel he’s recruited, the Liverpool legend has been highly impressive.
His side were unbeaten until they went to Celtic last week and, if they were beaten in that game more convincingly than the 1-0 score suggested, they are a now a decent outfit.
And like either half of the Old Firm, the worst time to face them is usually when they’ve just lost to their arch-rivals.
Their fans, and Gerrard, will demand they bounce back in style from the Parkhead disappointment.
As he tries to get his team on the rails, that might not be the news McCann wants to hear.
While, though, a result may be beyond his troops, the least the manager will want from this one is a decent performance.
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