Robbie Neilson 'expects' Hearts to leapfrog Rangers and bring Tynecastle journey full circle by going second

Robbie Neilson has urged Hearts to leapfrog Rangers into second place with a win on Saturday.

The Jambos are just three points behind their weekend opponents going into a hectic run of Premiership and Europa Conference League matches. After the Light Blues visit Tynecastle, Fiorentina are in town next Thursday, with Hearts heading to Florence a week later, four days after a trip to Kilmarnock.

Aberdeen, Celtic, RFS and Ross County complete an eight-game October schedule for the capital club, who finish off their Euro group stage campaign in Turkey against Istanbul Basaksehir at the start of November. It’s a schedule that is sure to put Neilson’s squad to the test but he's determined to remain strong in the less glamorous matches as well. Third position suggests that his players are coping well with the extra demands placed on them this season, and moving up a place by beating the Gers would provide a big boost at the start of a punishing month.

It would see Neilson come full circle since first leaving the club back in November 2016. His side beat Rangers 2-0 at Tynecastle in his last match in charge before heading south to MK Dons.

Since returning four years later, he’s guided the club back to the Premiership at the first time of asking (again) and reached the Scottish Cup final twice. However, three points against Gio van Bronkchorst’s men would see him back to where he was at the end of a successful first spell in charge.

“We’ve been waiting for it for a couple of weeks now and we’re really looking forward to the game,” he said. “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