Philippe Clement is RIGHT to make Rangers title claim in public but there is a fact he knows deep down – Kenny Miller

The former Ibrox striker has put the Light Blues remaining three competitions in order of importance in his latest Sunday Mail column.

No manager will openly give one game priority over another. Thus, I understand Philippe Clement’s perspective. The Rangers’ upcoming game is always the most significant to him. I understand.

It doesn’t imply I can’t, though, just because he won’t do it. They are participating in the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, and Europa League at the moment. They have an exciting last-16 match against Benfica in March, as we found out on Friday. But when it comes to ranking the significance of that search for silverware? It is easy to understand.

The league is Rangers’ top priority this season. It must be. Furthermore, what do you know? The Scottish Cup is the second choice for me. For a domestic triple crown and an incredible accomplishment for the manager in his first season should they win both. Europe is my ranking of third. Clement never sees past the next ninety minutes, thus he will never acknowledge it. And he has every right to do so.

But becoming champions again and toppling Celtic has to be his prime concern. And that comes into sharp focus right now. After the Europa League draw, it’s easy to start thinking about those nights at Ibrox again. Everyone wants to recreate those moments, like beating Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig en route to Seville for the final. But I’m sorry, the glitz and glamour of Europe can wait.

Because all that matters at the moment is a midweek game in Ayrshire on a plastic pitch. Rangers’ game against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Wednesday night is of paramount importance to their title chances. That’s their bread and butter. And it won’t be easy. Derek McInnes has got his team so well organised and they’re bang in form. They showed that against Celtic at Parkhead last week. Killie have top six and European football on their own agenda. So it will be a tough night for Rangers but the kind which will have a massive say whether they lift that Premiership trophy in May.

These are the games when you prove if you have the mentality to be champions. When you talk about pivotal moments and potential slip-ups in a title race – this is one of them. It’s not just about the astroturf pitch. It’s about how Derek’s team have gone about their business against the Old Firm recently. They’ve beaten Celtic already and also got the better of Michael Beale’s Rangers on the opening day of the campaign.

There isn’t a team in this league with a better record against the Glasgow clubs this year. So it looks like a big night for Rangers. It will probably be wet and windy down there so their focus has to be laser sharp to get the job done. Kilmarnock will give nothing away and they’ll make you earn anything they get on Wednesday.

When you’re getting closer to a title, these types of games take on even more significance. When Celtic slipped up and Rangers went top – all eyes moved to the next two fixtures, Hearts and Kilmarnock.

They dealt with the first one and if they can get through Rugby Park unscathed, Clement and his team will be in such a strong position for the run-in.

With at least a two-point lead, Rangers fans will start to feel something special could be brewing. Europe is exciting and it’s hard not to think about Benfica, even now. Why shouldn’t fans dream about getting to another final? Certainly, if they get past Benfica, they’ll think they can go all the way to Dublin.

Clement wants them fighting on all fronts and he’s right to say that. But it’s a FACT that the league is more important. End of story. There is no debate. When I was on the radio two years ago, punters were telling me their Europa League semi-final was more vital than Old Firm games in the league.

It was unheard of, undiscovered ground. It was unbelievable to me that people were talking like that. Because the league is my first focus at all times. It would be amazing to actually take it back from Celtic, who welcomed back Brendan Rodgers and were seven points ahead at one time.

Not to mention the monetary and non-monetary rewards of winning the championship. Want to see Rangers defeat Benfica? Indeed. Is winning the Europa League their goal? They do, of course. It is also possible to prioritize. The primary goal must also be the title.

Deep down, Clement will know that. So far, he’s taken 52 points out of 57 in the Premiership, which is remarkable. And if he keeps that up, they’ll win it.