Hearts boss Jim Jefferies will prepare for the visit of Rangers without Marius Zaliukas amid a continuing impasse over his captain's contract situation. The Lithuania defender has recovered from injury and played in a behind-closed-doors friendly against St Johnstone on Tuesday, but majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov will not allow him to play for the first team unless he signs a new contract.

Jefferies said: "I'm just going to prepare the team as it stands without him.

"There's still an opportunity to solve it but that will be up to Marius' agent and the club to sort out.

"It would be great if we could have him but that situation has been going on for a weeks and we'll just have to wait.

"If it is sorted out before Sunday it will be a great bonus."

The situation mirrors that of Jose Goncalves, who played just twice in the last five months of his contract earlier this year after refusing to sign a new deal.

Before that, former skipper Andy Webster was frozen out of the team in 2006, more than a year before his contract was due to expire.

Responding to suggestions he was managing the club with one hand tied behind his back, former Kilmarnock boss Jefferies said: "I have been doing that all my life.

"Last term I inherited a situation with Jose Goncalves, I came in the middle of it.

"Jose had his reasons and explained them to me, that was his prerogative.

"The bottom line is Jose was only fit for one game when I was here and I played him. This is a different situation.

"Marius is on loan, the aim is to make him a permanent signing."