Match Preview: Hearts vs Rangers

Rangers travel through to Edinburgh tomorrow, a mere 2 1/2 days after the victory against Bursaspor, to play Hearts in an early Saturday kick off - 12pm to be precise. If you can't make it to the game, ESPN are showing it, and their coverage starts at 11.30am.

Although Hearts aren't on a great run of form - they've not won at home in the SPL this season - this will be a difficult match for our boys. It's not long since our victory against Bursaspor in the Champions League (worth mentioning again I feel!) and league matches following Euro games are notorious for throwing up bad performances - the dreaded "European hangover". I'm confident however that going into this game on the back of a victory in Europe (for a change), and a rousing pre match speech from Sir Walter, will see the lads fired up enough to bring back the points.

Hearts have a few injuries to contend with, Wallace and Driver being the biggest names that won't feature. Elliot, Templeton and Santana are doubts, but we know that means they'll probably end up playing anyway.

As for the Rangers, various news sites are reporting the Boogie and Broadfoot are both doubts, although I suspect that Madjid will feature if it's nothing too serious. Walter will most likely freshen up the squad from Wednesday's line up a bit, and I expect Jelavic to come in for one of the defenders (Broadfoot), and Weiss to come in for one of the centre midfielders (Edu). A 4-4-2 should be effective enough against Hearts, although we've seen Hamilton out fight the midfield already this season so who knows.

Indeed, Walter has mentioned the importance of carrying over European form to the SPL, on the official website:

"I think it can happen that you can take the higher level in the Champions League back in to the SPL and I would hope that's what would happen.

"I felt in the first three or four games we were slow to get going but that has got better and I'm hoping the involvement in the Champions League and the confidence from performing well there will help us continue in that vein.

"We have seen from the start of the season that there is not going to be much margin for error for us this year so it is important that we maintain the momentum.

"We have had to work hard for the results we have got and there have been good games and tight games along the way.

"So we know that we have to maintain that level because it seems we won't be able to drop too many points this season."

Let's hope he's right, and we can put Celtic under some pressure by winning before they kick off.

WATP

Rangers 24-7 Prediction: Hearts 0-2 Rangers