Scottish Championship top two teams Hearts and Rangers collide

Last season, Hearts (1/2 odds-on Scottish Championship favourites) and Rangers (3/2) were two divisions apart, but now they are battling it out for the one and only automatic promotion spot back to the Premiership.

The duo are in great form this season and look as though it will be a two-horse race between them come the end of campaign. However, the Jambos top the table by six points and are still unbeaten, but Gers can close the gap to three with a crucial away win (8/5), to halt their charge.

Rangers can take confidence from their last two trips to Tynecastle, as they beat them to nil in both, and they are tempting 19/4 chances to do so again.

Hosts Hearts, though, won the last battle this season in the reverse fixture at Ibrox 2-1, and can be backed at 9/1 for that scoreline in their favour once more.

For Jambos captain Danny Wilson, he hopes to face the club where he began his career, as he is an injury doubt for the match. The former Liverpool defender, now 22, was also on target against Gers last time out, getting the opener, and he is 28/1 to net first again, and 9/1 in the anytime market.

The Edinburgh side’s leading marksman with seven, Osman Sow, meanwhile, got a late winner that day, and the Swede is 5/1 to score last again, and 5/4 to strike anytime.

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson, whose side are 13/10 favourites for victory, said ahead of the clash: “It’s a huge game in Scottish football. It’s probably the biggest one so far this year, even taking the Premiership into account.

“It’s two teams at the top of the league fighting for the title, so it’s going to be a great atmosphere in front of a full house. We want to pass the ball, do things quickly and use our pace and ability. It would be a great cushion for us to get three points and also a great boost for the boys’ confidence.

“No matter how far we are ahead, whether it’s three points or whether it’s nine points, we still need to go out the next week and do it again. Every game is a test for us. There is still a very long way to go and a lot of points to pick up between now and the end of the season.”

Rangers are on fire at the moment, though, and Ally McCoist will hope his side can carry on their terrific run in all competitions of eight wins in their last nine, with seven being without conceding. They drew last time out, however, so a share of the spoils again at 9/4 is a decent shout.

McCoist will be hoping his top scorer this term, midfielder Nicky Law, can add to his six league goals. The Englishman is 5/1 in the anytime market.