Hearts fans plan to show their support for Steven Pressley

Sporting director Alex Koslovski had claimed Pressley had asked to be left out of Monday's game against Falkirk.

Koslovski said he was "mentally not 100% fit to participate" amid reports of plots to oust him as captain.

Pressley has been named in the squad to face Rangers, but Hearts would not say whether he would play or be captain.

BBC Sport understands that Hearts fans, unhappy at the treatment of Pressley, are to stage a "sit-in" protest after the game at Tynecastle.

No member of Hearts' coaching staff attended Friday's media conference to clarify the situation.

But Hearts defender Ibrahim Tall insists that Pressley remains captain.

Steven is a very good guy and a very good captain Hearts defender Ibrahim Tall

"Steven is the captain," said the Senegalese defender. "He is a leader of the squad.

"The players support him because he is a very good guy. But I cannot speak about his situation."

Pressley, Craig Gordon and Paul Hartley have spoken of their concerns about internal problems at the club.

With Pressley acting as spokesman, they pleaded for stability after another change of head coach and spoke of dressing-room unrest.

Hartley was subsequently dropped to the bench along with fellow Scotland international Robbie Neilson for Monday's 1-1 draw with Falkirk.

But it is thought that Craig Gordon will remain in goal against Rangers, despite reports suggesting he was next to be dropped.

Hartley, Neilson and Pressley have also been named in the squad for Sunday.

"They are good players, international players," said Tall. "We need all the players.

"Steven is a very good guy and a very good captain.

"We do not have a problem in the dressing-room.

"I do not know the reason he had this problem. We are together all the time.

"I spoke with him today and yesterday.

"We spoke just about the Rangers game because it is a big game."

However, some Hearts supporters plan to make their feelings known after the game.

Instead of walking out, they intend to stay in their seats after the final whistle.

It will be Hearts' final game before Eduard Malofeev stands down as temporary head coach.

Malofeev took over from Valdas Ivanauskas, who was given leave following illness.

Eugenijus Riabovas will take over on Monday.

He will become the third straight Hearts head coach to have previously been in charge of Kaunas, the Lithuanian club sponsored by Tynecastle owner Vladimir Romanov.

But Tall does not see the constant changes as an issue.

"If the chairman wants to change, it is not my problem," he said. "I am here to play football.