Hearts travel to Glasgow on Saturday for the match of the weekend against Rangers at Ibrox.
Rangers have had a bad time of it this season but seem to be picking up and this will be a hard hard game for the Tynecasle club.
Hearts are unbeaten in the last four games but three of those have been draws including last week’s 0-0 draw against Inverness CT at home.
The Jambos have fallen three points behind Celtic at the top but a victory here could take them level on points with The Bhoys as Celtic don’t play until tomorrow in the live game v Inverness CT.
Vital Quotes:
Rangers Fernando Ricksen on injury: ‘I’ve been playing for five months with a torn stomach muscle. There have been injections and you can’t keep going like that.’
Hearts skipper Steven Pressley on form: ‘We are only human at times and there have been big demands put on us.’
Rangers Team News:
Rangers were rocked this week with the news that key player Fernando Ricksen will be out for a month with a stomach muscle injury. Alan Hutton is also doubtful.
Dado Prso should still be out due to his hamstring injury but Nacho Novo could be in contention for a starting place after coming off the bench v Kilmarnock last week.
Gavin Rae is nearing fitness but won’t be ready for this one, Olivier Bernard and Julien Rodriguez are still out.
Player to watch: Nacho Novo
Is certain to play some part in the game and needs to be watched closely.
Hearts Team News:
Hearts full-back Takis Fyssas will be absent on Paternity leave as his wife is about to give birth.
Midfielder Julien Brellier returns and strikers Edgaras Jankauskas and Roman Bednar are expected to be fit enough to start at Ibrox.
Player to watch: Rudi Skacel
Rudi has been in sensational form this season and has scored loads of goals.
Match Facts & Stats
Hearts record @ Ibrox P139 W18 D26 L95 F145 A294
Previous meetings this season Hearts 1 Rangers 0, Sep 24th
Ref Watch:
Michael McCurry.
Match Prediction:
Hearts may lose this one, 3-1 to Rangers.
Next Fixtures:
Mon 26 Dec 2005 Falkirk (h)
Sun 01 Dec 2006 Celtic (h)
Sat 7 Jan 2006 Kilmarnock (h) Sco Cup
Sat 14 Jan 2006 Dunfermline (a)
Sat 21 Jan 2006 Kilmarnock (a)
