The first small step - one that saw ground conceded rather than gained - has been taken this season. Now, Rangers will leap into the unknown and look to stride forward.

To say that there is room for improvement from their opening fixture of the campaign heading into their second match is something of an understatement. If Philippe Clement’s side regress, they will be beaten. In all likelihood, they will lose to Dynamo Kiev unless they find significant improvement.

The draw with Hearts on Saturday was an unconvincing start to the season for Rangers. A day where three points were a necessity ended with only one being collected. On another afternoon, Clement and his players could easily have been left with nothing to show for their efforts.

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The Belgian spoke about his side lacking intensity without the ball and bravery on it, pinpointing the opening half hour as a particular concern. Rangers did improve after the break but their best chance went unconverted as Cyriel Dessers hit the woodwork and Steven Naismith was left to rue a lack of cutting edge that arguably saved Rangers from defeat on matchday one.

It did little to raise the mood of a dispirited support. This summer has seen questions asked about the direction of Rangers at all levels as the transfer strategy has been debated and the ongoing Ibrox works have rumbled on. There are few glasses that are half full at present but Clement's side have their own jobs to do.

The turnaround between Saturday lunchtime and Tuesday evening is tight for Rangers. Clement is not going to be able to drastically change things given the time available but he can hope that the sessions – both on the pitch and in front of the analysis screens – allow his side to find another level heading to Lublin. As John Souttar acknowledged, Rangers have no option but to improve.

"We will [have to step it up]," Souttar said after the goalless draw at Tynecastle. "All the preparation has been on this [game] so we haven’t looked at them. We will do in the next few days. We will need to step it up from what we did there.

“As a group, we are confident we can go there and get a positive result. There were times last year when we maybe didn’t have a great result at the weekend and then performed well in Europe. We can take confidence from that on Tuesday and go and do the same.

"Between pre-season and now it is basically full on. We were well aware of that for weeks and we have built towards that physically and tactically we have built towards that as well. We need to show it on the pitch on Tuesday.

"There will be no excuses on our behalf and hopefully we won’t need to use any excuses and we will be going through. As players we concentrate on the football, I am sure you are all aware of that. We do everything we can, everything we can control we do. We are looking forward to Tuesday."

Rangers will face a Kiev outfit that scored nine times in their victory over Partizan Belgrade to reach the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Their status as the seeded team in the draw is no guarantee of the favourites tag in the tie.

The debate over the merits of reaching the Champions League have been held already this term and will continue should Clement’s side reach the play-off stage and move to within touching distance of a place in the new-look format. Many supporters would prefer the Europa League experience but the prospect of a Champions League cheque and a higher calibre of opposition are difficult to turn down in the boardroom and the dressing room.

"Of course we are dying to be part of it,” Souttar said. “I think everyone in their right mind would want to play Champions League football. It is top level. Everyone will put everything they can to get there.

"It is difficult but it is what you want to be involved in. You want to be involved in competitive football. You can play as many pre-season games as you want but you can never recreate what a game like today is or a game like Tuesday will be.

"They are the games you want to play in but we have got to adapt quickly as players and be professional, rest and recover, and get your body right for Tuesday because it is a short turnaround."

The timescales may be tight but the extra couple of days between the Hearts and Kiev fixtures could prove beneficial for the latest additions to Clement’s squad. Vaclav Cerny was given his debut off the bench on Saturday, while Robin Propper participated in the warm-up before taking a seat in the stands following his arrival from FC Twente.

The fact that Connor Barron was the only new face on show in the capital was a source of consternation for supporters. It was no surprise that the style and substance was largely familiar as a result as a sluggish showing wasn’t enough to earn a victory.

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Clement would not commit to starting Propper and Cerny on Tuesday night when he held his post-match media conference at Tynecastle. He referenced making ‘smart rotations’. In the market and on the pitch, Rangers need to make the right choices.

"Of course," Souttar said when asked if there was more to come from the new recruits. "I was in myself coming into this club and it is difficult when you first come in. I thought they done well.

"It is going to take time for them to bed in, take time to be themselves in the group, especially when you come from different countries and it is difficult to get used to the language and the culture. Even their families off the pitch. It will take time for them relax and bed in but it is important that the boys here support them and give them everything they can to do that."

The search for gains – both individually and collectively – will be the focus as the Hearts draw is assessed and Kiev are analysed. Rangers remain a work in progress and this was a 90 minutes that reaffirmed just how far they have to go before supporters can be confident of success this season.

The first points of the campaign have been dropped already. Matches against Motherwell and Ross County, as well as the League Cup tie with St Johnstone, are to come domestically before the Old Firm showdown. Time is of the essence already for Rangers.

"A mixed bag," Souttar said as he reflected on the first Premiership outing. "I thought first half we weren’t good enough on the ball, off the ball. I thought second half we were slightly better but there has to be improvements going forward.

"The result is what the result is. Tynecastle is a difficult place to come and I know, having been in the other shoes, how they want to play against the Old Firm. They want to make it uncomfortable, put us in uncomfortable situations and I think they did that. But we have got to play our football more, got to pass the ball more.

"I think we probably went too direct first half. Second half we were a bit better but we have got to adapt better to the situation. I think as the season goes on we have got to learn that, and learn it quick."