LEE McCULLOCH was today hoping for good news as he battles to be fit for the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final against Celtic next month.

McCulloch suffered a calf injury in last week's 4-0 Homecoming Scottish Cup win at Forfar and the original fear was he would be out for a month, ruling him out of the March 15 showpiece.

The midfielder was due to have a scan on the problem area today.

He said: "I felt as if I had been shot in the leg last week but it is feeling better now. Hopefully the scan will be posititive."

Meanwhile, DaMarcus Beasley should return for the home SPL clash against Inverness Caley Thistle a week tomorrow after missing the win over Killie with a shin injury sustained after Elliot Smith's horror tackle at Station Park.

Nacho Novo is also working his way back to fitness after ankle damage against Dundee United on January 31, and hopes to feature against Hamilton Accies in the Homecoming Cup on March 8.

Walter Smith admits he did not expect to be back on top of the SPL so soon after falling seven points behind Celtic.

Rangers are at the summit less than two months after their 1-0 Old Firm Ibrox defeat sent their rivals clear.

The Light Blues moved into top spot on goal difference ahead of their Glasgow rivals with a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock, while Celtic were held 1-1 at Motherwell.

Smith said: "We're delighted to be in that position. After the Old Firm game we were sitting seven points behind Celtic.

"And with the consistency they have shown over the seasons, I thought it would take a lot for us to catch up.

"We have managed to do so and played some good stuff. Saturday's game was typical of that. We started very well and found ourselves a goal down, but we had a good reaction and were 3-1 up at half-time.

"So I'm delighted with that and obviously the fact that Celtic drew at Motherwell, which is a hard place to go at the present moment.

"We're delighted to get back on top of the league, albeit on goal difference."

Despite Celtic's shaky run of results, Smith expects another neck-and-neck sprint for the title.

Celtic won their third consecutive league crown last season despite being seven points behind Rangers in April.

But the Rangers manager is still relieved they have got themselves firmly back in the race.

Smith told Rangers World: "After being seven points down, I did feel it would be a difficult gap to close. But there is a lot of football to go, a lot of tough games. When you're playing the other top five teams in the last few games of the season, you're always going to get a very tight situation.

"We're sitting top on goal difference, the teams are in the League Cup Final together, so there's not a great deal between the two teams. We've got to say to ourselves that's the way it's going to be."