HIGH STAKES WILL LIFT TEAMS - JARDINE

Former Rangers and Hearts defender Sandy Jardine insists disappointing CIS Insurance Cup performances by both clubs will count for nothing in the crunch league game on Saturday.

The Jambos will put their 100% start to the Bank of Scotland Premier League on the line when the Light Blues visit Tynecastle, but go into the game on the back of a shock 1-0 defeat by SPL bottom club Livingston.

Rangers are looking to claw back an eight-point deficit on Hearts but were similarly unimpressive in the CIS Cup extra-time win over Clyde at Ibrox on Tuesday.

However, ex-Scotland international Jardine maintains too much is at stake for either team to dwell on the poor midweek displays.

"Midweek will have no bearing on the game," he said. "Both Hearts and Rangers rested a couple of players in midweek.

"The occasion will lift everybody involved because of what is at stake. It will be a packed house and Tynecastle has a great atmosphere when it is full because the crowd is very close to the players.

"There may only be 17,000 people in there but there will be a brilliant atmosphere because of the stadium lay-out."

Jardine made his name with Rangers, where he made 674 appearances for the club, and still works in the Ibrox commercial department.

But he ended his playing career at Tynecastle, playing in the team which just missed out on the double in 1986.

Now the ex-Gers full-back believes the Light Blues must be at the top of their game across the pitch to match Hearts' work ethic.

Jardine said: "The reason Hearts are doing so well is down to team effort.

"They have a lot of good players in the squad but you could not highlight any individual because they are playing as a team and that is why they have been successful so far.

"The Rangers players know Tynecastle is always a difficult place to go to anyway but there is an added spice with the way Hearts are playing.

"But you would hope the Rangers players will respond because of that.

"

Taken from sportinglife.com
;It is a difficult one to predict. I am actually looking forward to seeing Hearts because I have only really seen them on television.

"But both teams will be up for the game, without a doubt."