Last term ended in disappointment when Celtic retained the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on the final day after a gruelling schedule eventually took its toll on Rangers, who had looked certain to triumph at one stage.

An epic European run – the Ibrox side reached the UEFA Cup final after participating in the Champions League group stages – was regarded as a huge factor in the failure to wrest the championship from their arch-rivals.

An early European exit this time around should have worked in Rangers' favour domestically but that has not been the case, with Celtic now setting the pace in the title race.

"Celtic seem to have a consistency that we have struggled to match," admitted Smith. "We managed to match that last season and we have still to show we can do that this season.

"From past experience, when you become champions, you take a pride in that and that helps build a good bond within your team and all the other sides find it difficult to catch up. I think Celtic have a pride in their performance now and they've shown they can lose one or two players and still do well in games.

"They have shown us in the early part that they're not going to weaken and we are realising that we will have to better last season's challenge if we are going to be champions."

A goalless stalemate at Motherwell on Wednesday night saw Rangers fall four points adrift of Celtic at the top of the table.

The other team Rangers have shipped points to is today's opponents, St Mirren, who claimed a shock win at Love Street in early October.

"You never like losing," said Smith.

"I remember that one because of the amount of possession we had but it was a little lesson for the team because possession of the ball doesn't necessarily mean that you win the game and that's what happened.

"We had a huge amount of possession and no goals at the end of it. I thought we were going some way to rectifying that but in a couple of games since, that hasn't been the case.

"We have to make sure we find more of a killer instinct at the end of our possession if we are going to make the challenge this season."

Barry Ferguson came through his first 90 minutes of the season at Fir Park and Smith admits his captain may have to drop out of the starting XI this afternoon at Ibrox.

"We will have to have a look at him in the sense that it's sometimes easier for a player to play in the first game because his adrenalin will get him through," he said.

"But the effects of the game are something he may feel more today. I'll speak to him and see how he is."

Gus MacPherson will instruct the St Mirren players to forget all about that home victory over Rangers, stressing that

hard work and confidence will be the key if his side are to stage a repeat of last month's win, secured by Stephen McGinn's solitary goal.

MacPherson said: "As soon as that game was finished, it's forgotten – you can never rest on your laurels or celebrate for too long.

"This is a completely different match because we're away from home and it'll be tougher than at Love Street.

You have to show courage – if you have the mentality that you aren't going to win, it's a waste of time turning up; it's a test of not only your ability but your character to go into these arenas and show what you're capable of doing.

"It's going to be extremely difficult but I'll say exactly the same stuff that I say prior to every game – be brave and positive, we have to have confidence to get on the ball, and get good movement off it."