IAN MURRAY, the Rangers defender, claims the transformation in form produced by the current squad since Walter Smith became manager proves that a radical revamp is not required for next season.

The Ibrox club visit Hibernian today hoping to seal second place in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague and extend their domestic unbeaten run to 12 matches.

"Hopefully, we can now get second spot wrapped up with a few games to spare," said Murray. "The turnaround since Smith arrived has been strange because there's been no drastic change of personnel.

"Last Saturday, we were 1-0 down against Hearts and turned the game around - a couple of months ago, we would have lost. We want to continue this form and make sure it's not a short-term thing.

"I don't think there will be wholesale changes this summer. There will be players moving out but I don't think there will be 10 or 12 going and the same number coming in. I think there will be five or six, but that's just normal."

A disappointing defeat to Osasuna in the UEFA Cup has been the main setback since January, but Murray believes appraisals of that outcome should be altered.

The Pamplona club now stand just 90 minutes from reaching the tournament final at Hampden after defeating Sevilla 1-0 on Thursday night.

"We got hammered and crucified when we lost to Osasuna, yet we were the last team to score against them in Europe," said Murray. "They have gone on to beat Bayer Leverkusen, and then beat Sevilla in the first leg of the semi-final. People have to look at the bigger picture."

Rangers' vastly improved results over recent months have, Murray feels, heightened the disappointment at allowing Celtic to build such an unassailable lead during Paul Le Guen's time at Ibrox.

"To get the gap down from 21 points to 13 just now is a good achievement," said the left-back. "But to get that far behind in the first place was a nightmare.

"We were left kicking ourselves because, if it had only been 14 or 15 points, we would have been in with a chance."