Steven Naismith recognises Rangers style in Rhys McCabe as Hearts and Airdrie bosses silence the naysayers

Steven Naismith sees the Rhys McCabe he knew at Rangers in his Airdrie side.

The former Ibrox team-mates go head-to-head on Sunday for a place in the last eight of the Scottish Cup, with Hearts visiting New Broomfield in the final tie of the weekend. The capital club go in as favourites, but were made to sweat in the last round against Spartans on a plastic pitch. This weekend, they face one of the Championship's form teams led by one of the Scottish games brightest young bosses.

Naismith has been seriously impressed by the way McCabe has gone about his business with the Diamonds. And he draws parallels between the pair, after scepticism greeted both in their respective appointments. But now Airdrie are firmly in the play-off hunt while Hearts are running away with third place in the Premiership thanks to their current ten-game unbeaten run, which Naismith hopes will continue against McCabe's men.

"A lot of credit goes to Rhys," he said. "Similar to myself, he takes a job probably earlier than people expect him to.

"He's doing, what I would say, is much harder in terms of playing and coaching and managing. He probably didn't get the backing at the start from everybody surrounding football, as nobody really does nowadays.

"But he's worked hard and continued to do really well at a club where there is quite a bit of change season on season with the playing staff. So I'm delighted for him.

"I've got a good relationship with him from when he was a young player at Rangers when I was there. It's credit to him that's still playing keeping his fitness levels up and being involved in sessions, but also taking the burden of managing and coaching the team.

"That said, we know it will be tough because they are a good footballing