Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson has promised his side will not be cowed by Rangers' physicality if the meeting of the Championship's top two clubs once again descends into a battle of brawn over brain.

When these sides last met in November it proved to be something of an X-rated spectacle, with Steven Smith's red card for Rangers after less than 25 minutes setting the tone for a woefully ill-tempered encounter.

Hearts ran out 2-0 winners at Tynecastle, but Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd were lucky to stay on the field following similarly reckless challenges during an afternoon which could have been a lot worse for the Glasgow giants.

Hearts have been lauded for their technically impressive, aesthetically pleasing style during an unbeaten league campaign. However, Neilson is evidently not a slave to his principles.

He fully expects another feisty affair at Ibrox and is confident his players will rise to that challenge - within the laws of the game.

"I expect a physical game. It is two teams at the top of the league, desperate to get promoted," Neilson said.

"But it's important to keep 11 players on the pitch - regardless of the opposition it is difficult to get a result with ten men."

Given his expectations of a rough-and-tumble fixture, it is fair to say new signing Genero Zeefuik is likely to come into Neilson's thinking for Friday night's clash.

The Dutch striker, who arrived on loan from Groningen on Thursday, cuts an imposing figure and Neilson acknowledges that he gives Hearts an entirely different option in attack.

"Genero is very different from what we've got. It means we can go a bit more direct if we need to," he said.

Neilson revealed that, unless he loses any players, Zeefuik will be Hearts' final arrival of January, with the coach declaring his happiness with the squad available to him.

And the phone is yet to ring with declarations of interest in any of his players.

"I am quite happy. Unless somebody moves we won't make any moves for anybody else."