Hearts vs Rangers: Robbie Neilson 'expects' to win clash and leapfrog Ibrox side
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson is challenging his players to beat Rangers and move up to second in the Scottish Premiership; Craig Halkett remains a doubt for the match at Tynecastle; Watch Hearts vs Rangers on Saturday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 12:30pm
Friday 30 September 2022 12:20, UK
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson is urging his players to take their opportunity and leapfrog Rangers into second place in the Scottish Premiership.
Hearts are just three points behind the Ibrox side ahead of Saturday's match at Tynecastle Pak, live on Sky Sports, as they prepare for a busy schedule domestically and in Europe.
They host Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League next Thursday with the return a week later, after a trip to face Kilmarnock.
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Aberdeen, Celtic, RFS and Ross County are also included in Hearts' October schedule and Neilson believes beating Rangers would be a massive boost at the start of a hectic month.
"We've been waiting for it for a couple of weeks now and we're really looking forward to the game," he told Sky Sports News.
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"It's an opportunity for us. We're sitting three points behind them and if we get a result, we can go ahead of them on goal difference so it's a massive game for the club.
"We always take it game by game but when we're playing at Tynecastle, we expect to win every game and it'll be the same on Saturday.
"There's no doubt we're playing against a quality team with a lot of international players. They've had this wee break to prepare for it as well, but we believe going into the game that we can win it."
Neilson is relishing the challenge Hearts face in the coming weeks as he backs his players to impress.
"It's different from what we're used to. Generally we'll have Saturday-Saturday preps, but for these European games we have them in between," he added.
"There's a mental aspect because you've got the high of the big games and then have to go and win on a Sunday, but we've coped with that. We're sitting in third position with an opportunity if we win on Saturday to go into second, which would be magnificent for us.
"This six-week period is really, really important for our season because we've got a number of European games - four to go - and we have the league campaign so we have to stay strong."
Craig Halkett remains a doubt to face Rangers after a hamstring injury in the 2-0 win over RFS and he could remain on the sidelines so he is ready for next week's ECL match.
Neilson said: "It'll be touch and go for Saturday but we hope to have him back for the Thursday game against Fiorentina.
"Other than that it's Boyce and Baningime who are the two out."
Gordon: We can cause Rangers problems
Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon insists the chance to move above Rangers into second in the Scottish Premiership makes them more determined to beat the Ibrox side.
"There's the added incentive that we could go into second place if we win the match, so there's a lot riding on it and it's one we'll be giving everything to try and win.
"It's always a difficult game, they're got quality players.
"They maybe had a few difficult results in Europe recently, but they've still got great players.
"They've spent a lot of money so they're going to be a good team so it's going to be difficult for us to deal with that, but that's what the challenge is and we're looking forward to it.
"We think we've got a good chance if we can play our game and if we play to our strengths then we can cause them problems.
"We have to make sure we're giving everything in the league. That's how we got to Europe having a very good season last year, we got a lot of points and that's what we have to do again this season.
"We need to be getting results against the big teams in this league as well for us to be improving and try and get closer."
