Hearts: Liam Boyce gives fitness update ahead of Rangers cup tie after bout of tonsilitis

Liam Boyce has declared himself fit to face Rangers

Hearts striker Liam Boyce has declared himself fit for the Scottish Cup quarter-final clash with Rangers on Saturday evening - despite battling an injury and an illness earlier this month.

Daniel Stendel and his coaching staff are expected to make a late decision on the former Burton Albion frontman, but on-loan Barnsley midfielder Toby Sibbick is unlikely to be rushed back for the cup tie. The 20-year-old hasn't featured since the 3-3 draw with St Johnstone at the start of the month and still hasn't resumed full training, although he has been doing some individual work at Riccarton.

However, the pair may be saved for the club's remaining league matches as Hearts look to haul themselves off the foot of the Scottish Premiership table.

Boyce was struggling with a back injury before being laid low by a bout of tonsilitis, but insists he is raring to go as the Tynecastle Park club prepares to host the Gers for a second time in just over a month.

The 28-year-old scored the winner in the last meeting, a 2-1 Scottish Premiership clash in late January that blew the title race wide open and gave Hearts a glimmer of hope in their relegation battle.

'I feel good now'

Speaking to Hearts TV, he said: “I’m brilliant now. I’m just getting back from having tonsillitis for a couple of days and I've had a sore back since the Falkirk game.

"At the penalty I flipped over and landed on my back and it aggravated something."

The ex-Ross County frontman was grateful for the postponement of Hearts' Friday night trip to Paisley to face St Mirren last week, with the weather putting paid to the televised clash.

He continued: "If anything, the game being off on Friday, and the illness, gave me a couple of days off to let it settle down.

"I’ve been coming in and getting treatment and I feel good now.

"[Against Rangers] we need to go out with the same intensity and aggressiveness in the game on Saturday because it’s a one-off cup match and anything can happen.

“We need to put our stamp on the game and obviously try and win and get to the semi-final."