The visitors sit third in the table, five points adrift from the top two, while the hosts are in ninth place, just two points clear of the relegation zone.
After securing their first Scottish Premiership title in nine years with an unbeaten campaign and an impressive 102 points in 2020-21, Rangers have gradually fallen further behind Celtic in the years since.
Their bitter rivals have lifted the trophy in each of the following three seasons, a streak that Rangers and Philippe Clement would have been determined to break this campaign.
Despite the Gers having a largely positive start to the campaign, claiming 16 points from the first 21 available, they still find themselves five points adrift from the top two, with Aberdeen and Celtic having won all seven league fixtures thus far.
Clement's side did struggle at the beginning of the campaign, winning just one of their opening four matches across all competitions, with two draws and one defeat, but they have been vastly improved in the following games.
They have gone on to win seven of their last nine outings, falling to defeats against Celtic and Lyon, a strong run of form that they will be aiming to continue with another victory on Sunday.
Rangers will certainly be the favourites heading into the matchup, with their hosts languishing towards the bottom of the Scottish Premiership table, sitting ninth with only six points from seven fixtures.
Kilmarnock's start to the campaign is particularly disappointing having finished fourth in the division last season, earning them a chance at competing in European football.
Derek McInnes's side failed to capitalise on that opportunity, being eliminated from the Europa League in the second qualifying round by Cercle Brugge and from the Conference League in the playoff round by FC Copenhagen.
Their struggles in Europe carried over into domestic competitions, as Kilmarnock lost all of their first four domestic matches, three in the league and one in the second round of the Scottish League Cup.
Killie finally earned their first point in the Scottish Premiership on matchday five with a 1-1 draw against Hibernian, sparking a run of three successive draws, before eventually securing their first three points of the campaign as they defeated Dundee 3-2 last time out.
Kilmarnock looked destined for a fourth loss in the league as they found themselves 2-0 down going into the final five minutes, but goals in the 86th, 88th and 94th minutes saw McInnes's side fantastically triumph.
The hosts will remain without the services of Kyle Magennis, who has been out of action since December 2023, but the midfielder is expected to return later this month.
A dominant performance in their first league win of the term in their last game could see McInnes opt to name the same starting team in this one, though goalscorer Bruce Anderson could come into the 11.
The Gers will be unable to call upon Danilo (knee), Oscar Cortes (knock), Rabbi Matondo (hamstring), Ridvan Yilmaz (thigh) and Tom Lawrence (hamstring) for this match.
Ianis Hagi has also been ruled out after the attacking midfielder received a red card in the 81st minute of the 2-0 win against Kilmarnock in their last outing.
Vaclav Cerny scored twice in that game, taking him level with Cyriel Dessers on three league goals this season, and both are expected to lineup in attack here.
Kilmarnock vs Rangers: Team News and Prediction
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:McCrorie; Mayo, Deas, Ndaba; Armstrong, Lyons, Donnelly, Kennedy; Watson, Watkins; Vassell
Rangers possible starting lineup:Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte; Diomande, Raskin; Cerny, Bajrami, McCausland; Dessers
While Kilmarnock will be in good spirits after recording their first league win in their last outing, courtesy of a phenomenal late comeback, Rangers are undoubtedly the stronger team heading into this one, leading us to believe the visitors will win here.For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Rangers handed Danilo boost
The Brazilian made two appearances in August after surgery on a knee problem suffered last December.
The 25-year-old then required another operation having played just 23 times since his move in July 2023.
Danilo is now back in training, with manager Philippe Clement saying: "We will see how fit he is for the weekend."
Sunday's league visit to Kilmarnock is the first of seven games for the Ibrox side in the next three weeks.
Ross McCausland, Ridvan Yilmaz and Rabbi Matondo are expected to return soon, but Oscar Cortes is out longer term.
"We need to work hard, recover correctly and be ready for this crazy schedule," the Belgian added.
McInnes: 'It's important Rangers see a Kilmarnock team ready to take initiative'
He said: "We're well into the season now, from a physical point of view we're in a good place.
It was unbelievable outcome so for us [against Dundee]. We've been better in second halves, we're not scoring the first goal enough.
So it's important Rangers see a Kilmarnock team ready to take initiative."
Mayo: 'We're going after the result'
Lewis Mayo wants Kilmarnock to take a positive mindset into Sunday's Scottish Premiership match against Rangers.
Derek McInnes' side beat both Rangers and Celtic at Rugby Park last season, and Mayo firmly believes they are capable of another upset despite their indifferent early season form.
"At the core of it, I think it's that positive mental attitude that we're turning up and we're going after the result," he said.
"We're well set up and well organised but we talk about if we see that, can we go and press them? Are we pressing high, are we waiting for them? Can we get after them?
I think that's something we did really well last season here. And you can see it in the European games, teams that come here, they get rocked a wee bit sometimes."
Mayo says confidence was a key part of their success against the Old Firm last season.
"In terms of performance, everyone needs to be playing well," Mayo added. "Because when you’re not, the better teams, the better players, they punish you quicker.
I think at the base of it is that confidence. And then I think even getting one result last season bred confidence for the other games that we get a result.
And all of a sudden teams come here thinking that's in the back of their mind as well. So I think that’s the core of it."
Clement: 'We need to be busy with ourselves'
He said: "This is a special game, we know it's a big challenge.
Kilmarnock only lost against us and Celtic (at home in the league) last season.
Even in Europe good teams like Copenhagen didn't manage to win here, so it's a big challenge on a special surface where you need to adapt."
On having Tom Lawrence back: "He's in a good place, you see it in the way he trains, the way he feels in himself, so that's what you want to see.
We need to be busy with ourselves, focus on as many points as possible and not focus on all the on other teams because then you lose energy.
We're only focused on ourselves to go hard to get the three points."
