INTERIM Hearts manager Valdas Ivanauskas has thrown down the gauntlet to Rangers by insisting he does not fear a final-day Champions League showdown with the Ibrox side.

The Lithuanian's counterpart in Govan, Alex McLeish, has spoken of his desire for the mouthwatering encounter between the two sides vying for the all-important second spot to be scheduled early following today's split.
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McLeish is keen for his team to have the opportunity to pile the pressure on their Tynecastle rivals well before the 7 May climax. However, Ivanauskas - who voiced his dislike of the Premierleague's split after experiencing something similar during a spell in Austria - is adamant it makes no odds what fixtures the SPL officials throw up when they devise their running order for the final five matches this evening.

"For me, it does not matter," he said. "We have Dunfermline on Saturday and Rangers don't have an easy game either. Then the split and then we will play Rangers. Okay, if it's game five or game three or four it's no problem. For me, there's no difference when we play against Rangers.

"After the split it is the best six teams in Scotland and every game is important for every team. Rangers must play Celtic and we must also play against Rangers, Celtic and Hibs. Every game is difficult."

Even without knowing when the sides will meet, McLeish has already sparked the psychological warfare by declaring Rangers are more used to - and more capable of - handling the stresses and strains of the run-in.

However, despite watching his team's advantage cut to only three points following Wednesday night's controversial 1-0 defeat to Celtic, Ivanauskas believes the performance at Parkhead poured scorn on that theory.

"We lost three points against Celtic - and congratulations to Celtic and to Gordon Strachan," he added. "But we played okay and if we can play at the same quality and with the same energy we won't have any pressure."

Jim Leishman, the manager of today's opponents, agreed that Hearts should have no fears when trying to compete with Rangers and Celtic. "During the close season, if the owner of Hearts keeps strengthening like he has then they'll definitely be on a level with the Old Firm next season," said the Dunfermline boss.

"For the moment, he's getting a return on his investment. They're in a cup final and they're up there challenging."

Meanwhile, Ivanauskas has responded to reports suggesting Bosnian winger Mirsad Beslija could seek a move in the summer after failing to make an impact on the first team, saying the £850,000 signing would have to remain patient.

"Mirsad is a good player but he needs to wait," he said. "He needs time to adapt to Scottish football and the Scottish tempo. We have a big squad and Mirsad is just one player from a big squad."

Taken from the Scotsman