Ton’s Renfrewshire rivals are rooted to the bottom of the top flight and look doomed to the drop, with manager Gary Teale recently conceding defeat in their fight for survival.

Meanwhile, at least one of Hibs or Rangers will remain in Scotland’s second tier and possibly both depending on the outcome of the Premiership play-offs.

But Russell, a Paisley-born childhood Gers fan, made 12 appearances as the Ton were relegated last term and says getting the club back to where it belongs is all the motivation the current squad need.

The 19-year-old told the Tele: “Is the potential to be in a league with Rangers and St Mirren next season an extra incentive? I don’t think so to be honest.

“To get promoted from this division has always been our main aim and it doesn’t matter who is in the league above. It’s not about which teams we might be playing next season. Personally, that’s the way I see it anyway.

“Obviously it would be good to play against the likes of Rangers and Hibs, but you have all the other teams too and the aim is just to get promoted back up there.” Russell and co. continue their title tussle today with a match against a club who are certain to be heading in the opposite direction.

Stirling Albion sit bottom of the League One table and were officially relegated last weekend — but the left-back says he and his team-mates will not be taking them lightly despite their plight.

He added: “Stirling were relegated last Saturday but I don’t think that will make much difference to the game today.

“They will go into the game with nothing to lose but we are treating it like any other game.

“We just focus on them as the next team; we don’t look at where they are in the league or how they’re doing.

“Stirling have shown against us that they’re not a bad side. They gave us a good game at Cappielow last month.

“It was an open game in the first half and there was nothing between the two of us, but we went on to win it 4-0.

“Anybody looking at the score from the outside would just have assumed it was an absolute thumping, but it wasn’t. I think they’ve maybe just been a bit unlucky this season.” While Ton look for the three points at Forthbank, league leaders Forfar are at Peterhead while Stranraer host Stenhousemuir.

But Russell said: “I’ve not really looked at who they’re playing to be honest. We’re just focusing on us and our matches.

“We feel as if we’ve got a right good chance of winning our last three games. That’s the way we all see it.”