Rangers travel to The County Ground - home of Swindon Town - in the first round of the Carling Cup tonight (Tuesday).

Maurice Malpas' side - who finished 13th in the third tier last season with 61 points from their 46 League One fixtures - will provide stiff opposition for Iain Dowie's men, as the R's aim to go one better than their first round exit at the hands of Leyton Orient last season.

It certainly won't be easy for Rangers though, against a Robins outfit who have high ambitions to achieve in League One this season.

Saturday's 3-1 victory against Tranmere Rovers certainly bodes well for the rest of the campaign.

Striker Billy Paynter got the Robins off to the perfect start when he rose above his marker and headed home Jon-Paul McGovern's cross.

Simon Cox doubled the lead when he latched on to Paynter's flick-on and finished past John Achterberg, before McGovern slammed in Cox's cross after the break to wrap it up for the hosts.

Bas Savage tapped in Edrissa Sonko's centre for a Tranmere consolation late on, but Swindon were good value for the victory.

"I am delighted - I thought it was an excellent performance," said Malpas.

"We have set our standards and the question now is can we maintain it?

"It was great to get a goal early on and that settled us but I am just delighted with how we played in general.

"I thought the fans got behind the team and it was an enjoyable afternoon. Three goals, a good display and let's look to the next one.

"We have proved we can play but now we have to do it every week. It is how we handle it."

Buoyed by his sides display, Malpas is relishing the opportunity to lock horns with Rangers tonight, adding: "I think players have got to learn from games like Tuesday night. It is important they go out and enjoy and express themselves.

"I am looking forward to a Championship side coming here. The bottom line is it is 11 versus 11.

"Can we produce the type of performance we did on Saturday, can we take our chances? I don't think we have anything to fear.

"I watched QPR last week and they are a good side, of course they are, but it is a case of what we do in the game. If we can play with the same commitment and keep the same possession then we have got a good chance. If not the bigger and better teams, like QPR, will punish us."

The last time the two Clubs met was in May 2004, when Martin Rowlands bagged the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory for the R's.

Team News

Former Rangers defender Patrick Kanyuka will miss out for the Robins owing to a hamstring injury, while fellow centre-back Jerel Ifil is out with a groin injury.

Seventeen year-old Sean Morrison is likely to deputise, while full-back Kevin Amankwaah is also added to the squad following injury.