Abdallah Sima is searching for his 10th goal of the season and goes close.

Rangers captain James Tavernier chips back from the bye-line and the striker rises to power a header that can only be pushed away by goalkeeper Zander Clark before it is hastily cleared.

That man Danilo is looking to shoot on sight.

The striker plays a one two with Todd Cantwell and his drive from the edge of the penalty box is a few feet wide.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

Both managers retreat to the back of their technical areas at different speeds. Steven Naismith is in a hurry, running up the steps for a chat with his backroom team.

A leisurely stroll for Philippe Clement, sipping from a bottle of water. Both managers fairly happy with the opening 15 minutes, which have been fairly cagey. No real chances created at either end so far.

Craig Levein
Former Hearts manager on BBC Sportsound

Todd Cantwell isn't tracking back. Jorge Grant is coming out from the middle to pose a problem for Tavernier.

If Tavernier comes over to Grant, it leaves a big space on the right.

First sight at goal for Rangers.

Abdallah Sima picks up a long ball just outside the penalty box.

He finds overlapping fellow striker Danilo, but the man in the protective mask is leaning back and curls his drive well over the crossbar.

Neil McCann
Former Hearts and Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound

The area down the left-hand side for Hearts could be profitable for them. Cochrane is getting so much space.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

They've already seen their side force an early corner and look threatening going forward, so it's little surprise that the Hearts fans are the more vocal of the two sets of supporters. Can their players make the positive start count with a goal?

Hearts have their first corner, but big centre-backConnor Goldson rises to head clear Jorge Grant's cross with ease.

Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland at Hampden Park

Certainly a physical contest early on, with Lawrence Shankland getting a huge roar from the Hearts fans after holding off Todd Cantwell. No doubt team boss Steven Naismith enjoyed it too.

Lawrence Shankland has the first shot on target, but the Hearts striker's low drive is from a difficult angle, tame and straight at goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Rangers have the first opportunity to put their opponents under pressure with a free-kick wide on Hearts' left.

However, it is cleared and captain Lawrence Shankland relieves the pressure and advances up field.

A peep of referee Nick Walsh's whistle and Hearts' Jorge Grant gets the second Viaplay Cup semi-final up and running...

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

Sad to report that I saw a few flares in the Hearts end. The smoke is filling my nostrils right now. Yuck. And it appears a few fireworks are being let off in the Rangers end. Dangerous, dangerous stuff. When will people learn?

The players come out the tunnel into a Hampden cauldron...

Getting nervous?

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound

Rangers are an improving team. If Danilo and Lammers can take confidence from the other night - they can be a real goal threat. Clement has done a fine job so far.

But Hearts at their best can hurt them. The concern is whether they're too open or not. The middle of the park has been a problem for them. I'm intrigued to see what team is out there.

Shankland is just such a good player - a player Rangers should have signed.

Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland at Hampden Park

The players have departed the pitch for now, greeted by boos and cheers depending on which direction they pointed their ears.

The autumn sky is still peaking out over the stands at the national stadium and the players really have no excuse today - perfect conditions overhead.

Image source, SNS

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

I'm pretty sure Danilo is now Rangers' first-choice number nine, even though it's 99 on the back of his jersey.

His manager Philippe Clement disagrees, though. "No, there's no number nine, no number six, everyone's fighting for the jersey," he insisted this afternoon.

The stats favour Rangers, who haven't won the League Cup since an extra-time Nikica Jelavic winner against Celtic in 2011.

Image source, SNS

Philippe Clement has steered Rangers out of the choppy waters that engulfed predecessor Michael Beale and two late goals avoided what would have been a mini-crisis had they lost at home to today's Hampden opponents last weekend in the league.

However, the Belgian will realise that missing a golden opportunity to secure Rangers' first League Cup in 12 years with holders Celtic already out of the competition would not go down well with the fans or board.

Hearts and Rangers converge on Hampden hoping they are two steps away from ending their long barren spells in the League Cup.

Considering the Ibrox side have lifted the trophy a record 27 times, their fans will think it is about time they ended a 12-year wait for another one.

They should try being among the long-suffering Hearts support. The last of the Edinburgh side's four League Cup triumphs came in October 1962.

Every time we think of a key man for Hearts, it is hard to escape picking out Lawrence Shankland - and not just because he has shouldered the captaincy burden so well since Craig Gordon's long-term injury.

The 28-year-old striker has put an eight-game barren spell behind him to score twice in his latest three outings, including one against Rangers at Ibrox.

However, the absence of Alex Lowry, who is unable to face his parent club, could be significant as that recent improvement has coincided with the creative on-loan Rangers midfielder becoming a regular starter.

Image source, SNS