Anthony Stokes is anticipating a ‘hot’ reception at Ibrox on Saturday.
The striker made a scoring return to Hibs against Ayr United on Tuesday but can expect a much tougher challenge from Pedro Caixinha’s side.
Neil Lennon only once picked Stokes to start against the old Rangers club but the Irishman is an almost certain starter when the duo return to Glasgow in Hibs colours.
Anti-Irish chants are likely to be in full flow but as he showed in the 2016 Scottish Cup Final the striker will revel in the poison aimed in his direction.
“I prefer games like this with an intense atmosphere,” Stokes told The Sun. “There shouldn’t be more on the line because you should want to win every game, but the atmosphere does get through to you.
“You just need to stay relaxed and focus on the football. The fans can’t play the game for you – it’s up to us.
“I’m positive that if we can bring our ‘A’ game, and if we’re at 100 per cent, then we can cause Rangers problems.
“I’m excited about going to play there but I was excited about playing Ayr on Tuesday.
“Maybe Ibrox is the kind of place that brings out the best in me but the Scottish Cup Final stuff is done.
“Football changes week to week and I’ve learned that the hard way over the years.
“You can score seven or eight goals in seven or eight games but the fans can turn on you if you don’t score in two or three. That’s football.
“I’ll be a difficult game and it’s a difficult place to go but we couldn’t be in much better form going into it.”
Stokes rejoined Hibs last week after cutting short a four year contract at Blackburn Rovers to kick off his third spell with the Edinburgh side.
After four League Cup group matches Lennon’s side marked their return to the Premiership with a 3-1 win over Partick Thistle followed by a 5-0 win over Ayr to earn a quarter final tie against Livingston in the League Cup.
Stokes scored twice against Ayr with former Hoops defender Efe Ambrose also on the score-sheet.