The key selection decisions facing Steven Naismith ahead of semi-final

It is the second semi-final meeting between the teams this campaign after the Ibrox side won 3-1 in the Viaplay Cup. And Steven Naismith believes the side are in a better place than they were back in November.

"We are definitely a better team now with a better understanding and we have confidence," he said. "Our record and form from the last semi-final until now is matching the Old Firm. There are three or four points between the three of us since the last semi-final. That tells you we have progressed and that we are challenging them in terms of a consistent basis to stay at that level. The next step is playing in finals and winning them."

The question ahead of the game is, what will be the starting line-up?

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Joel Sked 

It's a dilemma. Do Hearts start with a back three or a back four? For a couple of weeks now I thought it would be a back four due to the issues the team faced in the defeat in the last semi-final where they didn't lay a glove on Rangers and the more recent meeting, a 5-0 thumping at Ibrox. Both saw the team line-up with a back three that at times resembled a back five.

My preference would be a back four with a three-man midfield and a front three that would see pacey players flank Lawrence Shankland. However, what I think Naismith will do is different.

Speaking on Thursday at the Oriam, he said: "We've seen the way Rangers play. They are a very direct team, they look to pick up second balls off that direct play or get in behind you. And I think in the last two games, Ross County and Dundee have been good at stopping that."

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Both County and Dundee flooded the centre and essentially allowed Rangers to attack down the flanks. Win the ball back and they would attack through the middle of Philippe Clement's side.

Taking that into consideration I'd expect a backline of Stephen Kingsley, Kye Rowles and Frankie Kent. A balanced trio of Beni Baningime, Jorge Grant and Cammy Devlin in front and Alan Forrest playing a withdrawn role behind Lawrence Shankland. Not too dissimilar to Scott Tiffoney for Dundee during the week. I wouldn't be surprised to see Forrest sit on John Lundstram. When the ball is won the onus will be on the former Livi star and Devlin to get up and support Shankland quickly with Alex Cochrane and Dexter Lembikisa - who will be favoured for his pace - attacking from wide and Jorge Grant supporting from a deeper role and threading passes.

Predicted XI: Gordon; Kingsley, Kent, Rowles; Lembikisa, Baningime, Devlin, Grant, Cochrane; Forrest; Shankland.

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James Cairney

There will be some understandable debate surrounding what shape the team should line up in on Sunday afternoon, but I expect we’ll see Naismith opt for a back three on this occasion. True, it hasn’t prevented Hearts from losing the previous four meetings with Clement’s side this season, but the three-man defence, combined with a No.6 sitting in front of them, makes it very hard to attack the centre. Rangers are fairly narrow in attack at the moment, and so I’d expect Hearts to flood the middle in response.

We already know that Craig Gordon will start, and a back three of Stephen Kingsley, Frankie Kent and Kye Rowles picks itself at this point. Alex Cochrane is the obvious choice to slot in at left wing-back – the Englishman has a good record in games against Rangers – but I think we could see a gamble from Naismith on the other side.

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Both Nathaniel Atkinson and Dexter Lembikisa have their drawbacks, and I think it’s crucial that Hearts have someone with pace out here who is capable of stretching the game. I think Alan Forrest fits the bill. You definitely lose a bit of defensive solidity, but I think it’s a worthwhile trade-off for what he gives you on the ball. It would be a gamble, no doubt about it – but is there any better time to gamble against Rangers and roll the dice?

I suspect we’ll see Beni Baningime in his usual position at the base of midfield and with Calem Nieuwenhof unavailable, I’d expect Cammy Devlin and Jorge Grant to hold onto their places in midfield. Both will have to work hard, coming back to support the defence while also getting forward to provide options in attack, but both have shown this season that they are capable of doing just that. Devlin, in particular, seems a very good fit for this game in my view.

Lawrence Shankland will of course play up top, where I expect him to be joined by Kenneth Vargas. The Costa Rican has looked at his most dangerous when played through the middle in a pairing, and his pace allows him to stretch the game in the final third. I think we’ll see Vargas running at Connor Goldson a fair bit, trying to nip in behind the backline – and if it works, he might just continue his run of scoring in every round of the Scottish Cup.

Predicted XI:  Gordon; Kingsley, Kent, Rowles; Baningime; Forrest, Devlin, Grant, Cochrane; Shankland, Vargas.