Hearts host title rivals Rangers at Tynecastle in a clash that could determine the outcome of the Premiership.
The unlikely leaders are four games away from winning a first league title since 1960 and becoming the first Scottish champions outside of the Old Firm since 1985.
Hearts have beaten both Rangers and Celtic twice already this season and another win over Danny Rohl’s side would surely eliminate the visitors from the race.
Rangers arrive at Tynecastle four points off the pace and knowing they have to win to keep their hopes alive ahead of next week’s Old Firm with Celtic, who won at Hibs yesterday to go level on points with Hearts.
Here’s everything you need to know
When is Hearts v Rangers?
Kick-off at Tynecastle is at 5:30pm on Monday May 4.
How can I watch it?
It will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.
What is the team news?
Derek McInnes makes two changes from last weekend’s win at Hibs. Alexandros Kyziridis and Islam Chesnokov come in for Pierre Landry Kabore and Jordi Altena. Cammy Devlin or Harry Milne both miss out. Blair Spittal, the hero at Easter Road last week, starts on the bench again, as does the equally impactful Sabah Kerjota.
Departing Rangers captain James Tavernier comes back into the side for the trip to Hearts, with Dujon Sterling likely to go over to the left with Tuur Rommens only fit enough to make the bench. There are further changes from the defeat to Motherwell with Mikey Moore, Andreas Skov Olsen and Mohamed Diomande coming into the forward line behind Youssef Chermiti.
Hearts XI: Schwolow; Steinwender, Halkett, Findlay, Kingsley; Baningime, Leonard; Kyziridis, Braga, Chesnokov; Shankland
Subs: Fulton, Kent, McCart, Kabore, Spittal, Forrest, Altena, Kerjota, Mato.
Rangers XI: Butland; Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Sterling; Chukwuani, Raskin, Diomande; Moore, Skov Olsen, Chermiti.
Subs: Kelly, Rommens, Aarons, Barron, Aasgaard, Gassama, Antman, Naderi, Miovski
What have the managers said?
Derek McInnes: “There’s obviously a lot riding on the game and we can’t downplay that – why would we? It’s a brilliant game to be involved in. All the Hearts supporters I’ve spoken to are eagerly anticipating the game. Monday 5.30 is an unusual kick-off time but it’s not going to dilute what’s going to be unfolding. The start of the game will be magnificent, and hopefully the end of the game is even better.”
Danny Rohl: “We need in the next four games, performances at nearly and maybe sometimes over 100 per cent to take the points. I think this is crucial now. You cannot just play 95 per cent or just 45 minutes of good football. You have to play it over the full time and this is a big part in this game. Of course, after Sunday, we were down, but we had not the feeling that anyone’s given up. This is what I like. And this is general, if you ask all the three teams at the moment, all the three teams will say they can win. Now we need a result from our side and a little bit of help. But there is a big, big belief.”
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