Danilo has been a slow burner since his big-money summer transfer from Feyenoord, but the masked man of Ibrox has come out of hiding in recent weeks.

Hampered by injury, most notably the fractured cheekbone suffered while scoring against St Johnstone, the 24-year-old has overcome the need to wear facial protection on his return.

He has scored two in two, including last weekend's dramatic league winner against Sunday's opponents, and emerged as his side's biggest goal threat.

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Neil McCann
Former Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound

I do not think so far these Rangers players have shown there is a power or a swagger about them.

I think now, in the team that Philippe Clement has taken over, the players don't have that strength that other teams walk in and are worried to play Rangers.

The fear factor has been eradicated from the team.

Craig Levein
Former Hearts manager on BBC Sportsound

Sibbick might be playing as a right wing-back and Cochrane on the left. I'm pretty sure it's a back five and three in midfield.

Vargas is very pacey and, when you have Shankland or Boyce in the side, you need a striker who can stretch the game and give them space to play, to make them more effective. Vargas does that.

He's quite exciting.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

Hampden Park is pretty much sold out.

Just under 30,000 watched 10-man Aberdeen book their spot yesterday in next month's final. There won't be too many empty seats this afternoon in the sunny south side of Glasgow, as Hearts look to make a bit of history.

They've never beaten Rangers at the national stadium. When they did in the 1998 Scottish Cup final, it was played at Celtic Park. There's a first time for everything, right?

Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland at Hampden Park

Ah, the pre-match warm-up routine.

First the players are spread out, then it's a circle, then it's a grid, then it's a sort of cool down walk, then more drills.

Wait, another circle.

The people who lay out the cones are being kept busy.

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Hearts head coach Steven Naismith has been speaking to BBC Sportsound about the possibility of reaching the League Cup final.

"There is a good opportunity for us," he says. "Having a game a week ago against the same opposition gives everybody a good feeling about what's to come.

"I have been at the club a long time. They crave a bit of success and this is a fantastic opportunity. As a squad, we have got to rise to the occasion and play a lot like the way we did last week, have a good set-up and be comfortable on the ball.

"The three game week is why there is a few changes. We have got a competitive squad. Everybody needs to be switched on and, when we have the ball, we need to ask questions of Rangers."

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By and large, fans at yesterday's first semi-final heeded the plea from the Scottish FA and competition organiser the Scottish Professional Football League not to bring pyrotechnics into the national stadium.

There were a few isolated flares, but there was no repeat of the mass midweek display by Rangers fans that lit up Dens Park and prompted condemnation from football's governing bodies, Police Scotland and even the Scottish government.

Police have been pointing out their illegality - while today's Hampden notice boards emphasise that "flares and smoke devices are strictly prohibited".

The two clubs and organisers will be hoping any 5 November fireworks at Hampden are metaphorical.

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If you have been listening to Sportsound, you will have just heard the breaking news that former Hearts boss Craig Levein, one of our pundits today at Hampden, is poised to take over at St Johnstone.

You can read more on that here.

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Former Ibrox striker Steven Naismith will have headed to Hampden with a sense of hurt having been left raging by the late penalty that allowed Rangers to equalise last weekend at Ibrox.

He also talked on Friday about how close Hearts had been to cup glory in recent years and the need to take that next step.

Indeed, this is the first League Cup meeting between the sides since Naismith came on as a substitute in a 3-0 semi-final defeat on 3 November 2019, a game started by five of the current Rangers squad and none of Hearts'.

We'll bring you the Hearts manager's thoughts shortly...

Neil McCann
Former Rangers and Hearts winger on BBC Sportsound

I feel Rangers are coming into a confident stage under Philippe Clement.

In the late victory against Hearts at Ibrox, Hearts performed really well and were very unlucky not to take anything from the game. But when you win so late on, it can do good things for the group.

Rangers had to go through a lot at Dens Park, but they came through handsomely. Some of the players who have been criticised lately have scored goals and performed better.

Looking at Hearts, they have a natural-born goal-scorer. When a team has that, they just need one chance. That's what Aberdeen did yesterday, so Hearts always stand a chance.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been speaking to BBC Sportsound as he makes his first-ever visit to Hampden.

"Players need to focus on what they have to do on the field, with and without the ball," he says. "We need to keep doing what we've been doing the last few weeks. We will become better and better in the next few weeks and months.

"We will always make mistakes. It's part of our job and part of football. It's about doing that as little as possible."

Talking about last weekend's win over today's opponents, he adds: "Hearts didn't create much after the first goal. They survived in moments.

"They're good at set pieces and in transition and they have several quality players like Shankland and Vargas, who can change the game in a moment."

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Craig Levein
Former Hearts manager on BBC Sportsound

The recent game between these sides was quite telling.

Rangers left it late. I'm sure there was enough for Steven {Naismith] to encourage his players that they have a good chance of winning this.

The difference between today and last week is the size of the pitch. It'll have a baring on Rangers ability to use the space. Hearts will have to defend and close the space. Maybe that'll help Rangers.

Hearts have had to endure a 10-game run without a victory over Rangers since progressing after a 1-0 Scottish Cup win in February 2020.

The latest of those came last weekend, when Hearts looked on the brink of ending a nine-year wait for a victory at Ibrox until two stoppage-time goals rescued three Premiership points for the hosts.

Hearts have since beaten Livingston 1-0 at Tynecastle to end a three-game run without a victory, but Rangers are the form side having gone five without defeat, four under new manager Philippe Clement, culminating in Wednesday's 5-0 thumping of Dundee.

Indeed, only a 0-0 draw away to Sparta Prague in the Europa League has prevented a 100% record.

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The possibility of an Edinburgh derby in the League Cup final was extinguished yesterday by one clinical finish from striker Bojan Moivski despite Aberdeen being down to 10 men, Hibernian being the better side and having most of the chances.

You can read Colin Moffat report of that match here.

Will Hearts cause an upset today? Thumbs up for yes below, thumbs down for no.

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Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland at Hampden Park

...Jack Butland as the Rangers goalkeeper and back-up Robby McCrorie come out for their warm-up.

The Hearts fans have their moment to applaud moments later, though, as goalkeeper Zander Clark and understudy make their way on to the pitch.

Hearts make four changes following the 1-0 midweek Premiership win over Livingston.

Defender Toby Sibbick, midfielders Jorge Grant and Calem Nieuwenhof and midweek scorer Kenneth Vargas come in for the semi-final, with Alan Forrest, Cammy Devlin and Liam Boyce dropping to the bench.

On-loan Rangers midfielder Alex Lowry is ineligible against his parent club.

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Philippe Clement makes two changes to the Rangers side that thumped Dundee 5-0 in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday.

Croatia left-back Borna Barisic returns to take over from Ridvan Yilmaz, while Todd Cantwell comes in for Scott Wright in midfield.

Both Wright and Yilmaz are on the bench.

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Let's get to those all-important starting line-ups...

Image source, Hearts

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Sportsound's build-up of today's semi-final has already begun on BBC Radio Scotland.

Former Hearts manager Craig Levein and ex-Rangers and Hearts winger Neil McCann join host Richard Gordon. Click the wee button at the top of this page to listen.

There's a separate live text for the Premiership game between Dundee and Livingston, which has just kicked off at Dens Park, and you can follow that here.

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