Football: Hearts vs Rangers this Saturday

Setanta have arguably the game of the weekend around Europe at 12.30 on Saturday afternoon. Runnaway leaders in the Scottish Premiership Hearts face their toughest test this season when they host reigning champions Rangers.George Burley's men have won seven out of seven, sit five points clear of their nearest challengers Celtic, eight points clear of Rangers. The only defeat of the campaign came in midweek in the league cup. In the league all opposition have been soundly beaten, including a 4-0 thrashing of Edinburgh rivals Hibernian and a 2-0 home win over Aberdeen. Of course Burley has form in guiding lesser clubs to the higher echelons of the league having helped Ipswich finish fifth in the English Premiership five years ago.Now in Scotland, Burley has the financial assistance he never really had in East Anglia. Lithuanian owner Vladimir Romanov has injected money into the club with which the manager has spent wisely.Despite a very good start to the season, the general consensus in the Rangers camp ahead of their trip to Tynecastle is Hearts won't be able to sustain this level of performance. Seven straight wins though for the Jambos would suggest otherwise.Defeat of course is unthinkable for Alex McLeish's side who would slip 11 points off the pace with just eight games gone if Hearts chalk up an eighth victory. However, the champions early season form has not been good with two defeats already. Admittedly Rangers have improved of late with a morale boosting win in the Champions League followed up by a couple of resounding victories in the league and cup. Ending Hearts' 100 % record won't be easy though. It will no doubt be a highly charged atmosphere at Tynecastle with little to choose between the sides. A small investment in a 1-1 draw at a best price 6/1 is the advice.