THE preparations of Robbie Neilson, the Hearts head coach, for facing Rangers have included working on how to play with 10 men at Ibrox.

Neilson watched his next opponents capitalise on their numerical advantage to beat Hibernian in extra-time on Tuesday in the Petrofac Training Cup after Danny Handling was sent off.

But even before that tie, Neilson had been working with the players on a strategy to face Ally McCoist's side should they have a man sent off in their opening league fixture this weekend.

Neilson said: "We've been working on 10 versus 11 because we know what it's like there - the atmosphere, with referees. You never know what's going to happen."