DAVIE WEIR admits it will be one of the biggest honours of his career if boss Walter Smith asks him to lead Rangers as captain.

The 38-year-old veteran stopper was given the skipper's role in the 1-0 win over SC Preussen on Sunday in the absence of injured skipper Barry Ferguson.

Weir stood in for his Scotland team-mate last year when he was absent and, along with Carlos Cuellar, will be Smith's options as a replacement until Ferguson returns at the end of October.

Weir said: "I don't know if I will take the armband again now that Barry is injured. I was captain on Sunday night, but it's up to the manager if I keep that role. I don't really know what will happen.

"It would be a massive honour. It's great to be captain of Rangers even for one game and I would be delighted to do that. But Barry is the captain of the club and I wish he was here, fit."

Weir says he can't put an exact figure on the amount of pre-season's he's gone through in his career, claiming it to be "quite a few."

But, as boss Smith scours the market for another centre-half to bolster the options, the former Everton man is determined to play as much as he can after agreeing a one-year extension.

He turned out a staggering 66 times for club and country last season, and if his fitness holds up, Smith is likely to keep him in place alongside Cuellar as first-choice pairing.

Weir continued: "I hope I get the opportunity to play another 60-plus games. If we have that number then it means we'll have had a successful season.

"I'm sure there will be players coming in to increase competition and that's the nature of life at this club.

"It's up to me to get in the team and play as many games as I can. You have to earn your place every week. You need that competitive edge in your nature to succeed.

"Andy Webster has come back and club wants to get another central defender. That's how it should be here."