Rangers were expecting to learn the full extent of injuries suffered by Pedro Mendes and Madjid Bougherra after both players underwent scans.

Mendes was forced out of Tuesday's 4-1 defeat to Unirea Urziceni in the Champions League amid fears he could be out for two months with knee ligament damage. Bougherra missed the visit of the Romanian champions after suffering a knee injury in training and neither player is likely to be involved when Hibernian visit Ibrox this weekend.

Rangers boss Walter Smith said: "This year I think they will be challenging the likes of Hearts, Dundee United and Aberdeen for European places."

He added: "That'll be a big target for them this season and I think they've shown a capability of pushing for that so far.

"Hibs have had an excellent start to the season and John already has a good team coming together.

"He has pulled in a couple of players and brought them together with the existing players in his squad really well."

Smith believes Hibs' impressive start is largely down to the fine form of two of the SPL's best strikers.

He told Rangers News: "For me, Derek Riordan is as good a forward as there is in this country when he is on form.

"He, along with Anthony Stokes, adds to the goalscoring capabilities within Hibernian's team.

"Stokes has shown over a period of time he can find the net too and the fact Hibs have him and Riordan in their team means they should do well this term."