As he prepares to head back to Tynecastle to face Hearts for the first time since leaving in the summer, Derek McInnes finds himself in a strange position.

On one hand, there is a growing sense of positivity around Rangers. Things are starting to click, with the 4-0 thrashing of St Johnstone last weekend their most fluent display of the season so far.

They have also beaten Celtic not once but twice, two results which were invaluable in buying McInnes some time after a dreadful start to the season both domestically and in Europe.

Yet, on the flipside, there is precious little margin for error. The 2-2 draw at Dundee just over a week ago was an example of how momentum can easily be squandered.

If Rangers were to follow that by dropping more points against Hearts on Wednesday night, it could easily undo all of the good work over the past couple of months.

Rangers are currently four points adrift in the title race. With Celtic playing at home to Dundee United, any slip-up by McInnes’ side in Gorgie could see that gap extended to six or seven points.

When Rangers beat Celtic 1-0 at Parkhead in September, they closed the gap to only two points. Hence the slightly peculiar dynamic of Rangers being much-improved, whilst also clinging on in the title race.

After sitting top of the league for much of last season with Hearts, only to fall short on the final day, McInnes won a lot of plaudits for pushing Celtic all the way.

There was also a degree of sympathy given some of the scandalous refereeing decisions that went against Hearts during the run-in, as well as the overall farce of the final day at Parkhead.

But none of that matters now. He was up against one of the poorest Celtic teams in history and ultimately fell short.

Celtic are just as much of a shambles now as they were back then. The league table, which sees them sit top with nine wins from 10 games, doesn’t even come close to painting an accurate reflection of their season.

Indeed, there was actually a debate on a national radio station the other day as to why a team can be so appalling in the Europa League, yet apparently so dominant in Scotland.

The debate was flawed in its perception that Celtic are in any way dominant. What they are doing under Martin O’Neill is wholly unsustainable.

In the wider context of Scottish football, it would be embarrassing if this Celtic team were to finish as champions once again this season.

This is the reality McInnes must face. This is the criteria against which he will be judged. There will be no pats on the back, and certainly no sympathy, if he finishes as runner-up once again.

Going back to Tynecastle this evening feels like a major examination of not only Rangers’ title credentials, but his ability to seize an opportunity in a title race.

Anything other than winning the league title will be viewed as failure for Rangers and their manager. That would be true in any season. But up against one of the worst Celtic teams in history, it applies tenfold.

In the end, Danny Rohl left Rangers as another failed manager. It didn’t matter that he improved them following those darks days under Russell Martin.

The only thing that mattered was winning the league - and he failed despite being backed with significant investment in January.

Rohl got Rangers right back into the title race, only to blow it spectacularly by losing four of their five post-split fixtures.

Granted, it is still much earlier in the season, but there is a danger that McInnes could fall into a similar trap if Rangers continue to spill needless points like they did against Dundee.

The two victories over Celtic earlier in the campaign were significant. They were statements that the balance of power could shift.

What will define this season for McInnes and Rangers is whether he can make sure that shift brings tangible reward in the form of silverware come next May.

For all that McInnes built such a strong relationship with Hearts supporters last season, there will be no sentiment this evening.

He will fully expect it to be hostile. He knows the power of Tynecastle. Never was this more evident than when his Hearts team beat Rangers 2-1 in Gorgie at the tail end of last season.

That was a result which ultimately signalled the start of the end for Rohl. McInnes is a long way from being at that juncture just yet, but it would be hugely damaging if Rangers were to suffer a similar fate tonight.

Look back on some of the opportunities McInnes has had in his managerial career. When he was in charge of Aberdeen, they were title contenders up to a point in season 2015-16.

Celtic were coming to the end of Ronny Deila’s second season and were weak and vulnerable. But, in the end, Aberdeen fell away and failed to capitalise.

Despite all of the plaudits that came their way last season, Hearts similarly fell short. Little is said of the fact that their away form over the second half of the season was dreadful.

McInnes is a fine manager. But if he fails to win the league with Rangers this season, there is a very real danger that he could be viewed as a nearly man.

Unlike at Hearts, second place can’t be dressed up as anything other than failure at Rangers. He will know this. He understands the demands of the club.

If Rangers are to grab this title race by the scruff of the neck, they need Nico Raskin to finally step up and start delivering consistently in big matches.

When Rangers went to Tynecastle last season and lost 2-1 in December, he was an empty jersey. These are the matches in which Raskin should be judged with regards to any big-money move in future.

When Hearts lost 7-1 to Celtic just over a week ago, they were a shambles. They have since bounced back with a 2-0 win at Motherwell and a credible display in a 2-0 loss to Trabzonspor in the UEFA Conference League.

But Wouter Vrancken’s side are ravaged by injuries. If Rangers are to be taken seriously in this title race, this is a game they must win.

They have already gifted Celtic a headstart in the title race with the dropped points against Dundee, Hibs and Dundee United.

Falling further behind would only serve to squander a terrific opportunity - and blow a lot of the credit that McInnes had banked on the back of those two wins in the Old Firm derbies.

McInnes has spent his career preparing for nights like this and seasons like this. Nothing will be decided either way at Tynecastle on Wednesday.

But it will be revealing. Blowing a league title against one of the worst Celtic teams in history spelled the end for Rohl last season.

It will be that sole criteria by which McInnes is judged. No ifs, no buts, no maybes. No talk of progress. And certainly no plaudits for second place this time around.