METAPHORICALLY speaking, Rangers arrive in Gorgie this weekend in the guise of a heat-seeking missile, with the emphasis being firmly on heat.

Those Hearts players deployed with the instructions to enhance their club's Champions League aspirations on Sunday would be forgiven for feeling a little sweaty about the collar of their maroon shirts. For the temperature around them is rising.

Since overcoming a domestically demoralising three-game losing streak at the beginning of February, Rangers have performed credibly in the last 16 of Europe's premier competition, participation in which is the ultimate ambition of Hearts' majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

After being eliminated from Europe on away goals by Villarreal, they are now laying siege to Hearts' position as the SPL's second-best side and the Champions League ticket for next season that accompanies it. Time for composed minds at Tynecastle. Step forward Julien Brellier.

The influential Frenchman returns from suspension this weekend and, although modesty would always prevent him from admitting so, he is in a rare category of player at Hearts. Along with colleagues like Craig Gordon, Steven Pressley and Edgaras Jankauskas, Brellier is a must-play-when-available type.

That the turbulent performances of recent weeks have coincided with Brellier's absence is extremely poignant, for Hearts are far more at ease as a team when the 24-year-old is amongst their 11 starters. The protection offered to the back four by Brellier in his defensive shield role has become immeasurable since he arrived from Inter Milan in late July.

He is guaranteed to assume that very position against Rangers, bringing him into direct confrontation with the crafty Thomas Buffel, who performs a deep-lying attacking role for Alex McLeish. Brellier's ability to curb the extent of the Belgian's authority, and that of Barry Ferguson when he ventures forward, will have a major bearing on the proceedings at Tynecastle as Rangers go for Hearts' jugular.

"In our first match against Rangers in September, Buffel didn't play well because we were outstanding and won 1-0," recalled Brellier. "But in the second game in Glasgow he was probably the best player, man of the match.

"He is a strong player but if we play like we did in September I don't think Thomas Buffel will be a problem.

"I'm very happy that I'm coming back against Rangers because it's a big game to come back in. We played a great game against them early in the season, there was only one team on the pitch that day. But it was the opposite at Ibrox so we have to look to play like we did at Tynecastle."

The general consensus is that victory for Hearts on Sunday will see them place one foot and four toes in July's Champions League qualifiers, with a nine-point gap unlikely to be overhauled by Rangers during the remaining eight games.

"I wouldn't say we have nothing to lose," said Buffel. "If we were beaten, Hearts would move nine points in front of us and that would maybe be too much to catch up. A win would be fantastic but a draw would not be terrible for us."

Defeat for Hearts, of course, will see the mercury rise evermore on Tynecastle's temperature gauge, allowing the heat-seeking missile to home in on its target with a mere three points requiring to be made up. Brellier is aware of the high stakes, but they were never likely to faze a player who, withstanding an uncharacteristic dismissal at Tannadice, has remained calmness personified this season.

"I don't know if I'm really the one to calm everyone. We maybe aren't playing our best football of the season just now but we have still been winning difficult games, like Partick in the cup, Livingston on a difficult pitch, and even a point at Inverness was okay given the conditions. It was important not to lose.

"If we beat Rangers I don't think it will be because I have played well, I think it will be because Hearts as a team have done their job. Bruno [Aguiar] and Martin [Petras] have played well in midfield whilst I have been out."

Nonetheless, unyielding adulation from the Hearts support has played a significant part in the Frenchman's adjustment to Scottish life after his disorientating time in Italy, where he played on loan for no less than four different clubs after joining Inter Milan in 2000.

"When I came here I never expected we could have such a good season, and that's been a good surprise," he continued. "I don't think I would find fans like this anywhere else. It's fantastic for me. They love me and I love them.

"In Italy it's a very difficult to make an impact like that. You can see that when you watch an Italian game, like Milan-Juve last Sunday. It was hardly a beautiful game and in Italy the fans only like the players who score the goals. Forwards and wingers, or a player like Zidane who can excite them.

"For a player like me your work is not noticed so much. I'm enjoying it at Hearts because the fans appreciate my job. I changed club every year in Italy, so I want to stay settled for a while and I'm happy here. You never know what can happen but I like it here."

McLeish may well glance across to the home dugout on Sunday and indulge in a moment of wishful thinking. The Portuguese defender Jose Goncalves was one he intimated an interest in during January's transfer window, but the player opted to become one of eight deadline-day signings secured by Romanov for Hearts.

"If we can win against Rangers it gives us much more possibility of finishing second," said Goncalves. "Six points is only two games, and we all know it doesn't take much to lose a couple of matches. Then it would be equal.

"I got the chance to play last week at Inverness, although not for very long. However long I am asked to play I will play because I am just pleased to be over my [groin] injury. I will be happy to play against Rangers."

Perhaps not quite as contented as Brellier, and certainly nowhere near as ecstatic as the Hearts support will be when they hear the Frenchman's name blared through the Tynecastle tannoy during the announcement of the starting line-ups.

With supporters in a frenzy at both ends of the ground in anticipation of enthralling entertainment, Brellier will simply stand in front of his defence as the teams line up and dare anyone from the opposition to come at him.

His self-effacing manner has certainly been noted by Graham Rix. "Comes in, trains, goes home again. Says nothing," noted the Englishman. "But what a player."

Brellier likes the unassuming approach, but his presence is sure to be keenly felt by Rangers on Sunday. If anyone can cool the heat-seekers, it's Julien.

Taken from the Scotsman