Rangers take on Hearts this weekend in Scottish Premiership action at Ibrox.
The two sides last met on the opening day of the season at Tynecastle in what was a dramatic, yet goalless clash to kick off the campaign.
Philippe Clement singled out two of his players that day for praise but he did have mixed feelings at full-time as he insisted his side did enough to win the game.
Jambos manager on that day in Gorgie was Steven Naismith and the former Light Blues attacker has offered his take on this weekend’s fixture in Glasgow.
Naismith – who was sacked by Hearts earlier this term and replaced eventually by Neil Critchley – believes his old squad can put together a challenge for Gers this weekend.
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The Edinburgh outfit currently sit 11th in the Scottish Premiership with just two wins and three draws from their opening 12 matches in the division.
But while Hearts have not started the year well, Rangers have also not had their troubles to seek domestically thus far.
A win at home is imperative for the Light Blues but Naismith is adamant the visitors may be able to control stages in the game when it kicks off on Sunday evening.
Naismith believes Hearts can frustrate Rangers at Ibrox
And the pressure of expectation of a home fixture in the league for Gers could be preyed upon by Hearts if they can frustrate their hosts early and keep it going.
Rangers, of course, are also just off the back of an energy-sapping 1-1 draw with Olympiacos in Greece and Naismith pointed to that as an issue, too.
“I think it will be an interesting game I think it’s as you said Rangers are in that period where demand’s high and they feel as if it’s not getting lived up to at the moment,” Naisy told the Warm Up.
Rangers and Hearts’ head to head record
“I think it’s not helped with how well Celtic are doing, but being at home there’ll be an expectation to dominate.
“I think Hearts have got the squad to go and control the game at times and if they do that it’ll give them a really good chance to to get something from it.
“You could look at the game and where Rangers are at, that it’s a good time to go to Ibrox to frustrate to try and control the game a bit which then brings that added pressure from the crowd.
“But with the European games, the clubs will see how that goes and then it is a big game for both clubs.”
Gers have won nine of their last 12 clashes with the Jambos with just three draws in that same space of time.
