A heat shield for a combustor comprising: a body having first and second side edges, an inner edge, an outer edge, a back surface and a front surface opposite the back surface, wherein an opening in the body communicates through the front and back surfaces (20,22), a plurality of effusion holes extending from the back surface to the front surface, the plurality of effusion holes providing discharge of the cooling air flow from the back surface to the front surface; and a plurality of rails disposed on the back surface for orienting and directing cooling air flow, the plurality of rails including: a first side of side rails disposed on the first side of lateral edges; a second side of the side rails disposed on a second side of the lateral edges; a circular rail disposed about the opening; first and second mid-rails extending from opposite sides of the circular rail, the first mid-rail joining the circular rail and the first side of the side rails, and the second mid-rail joining the circular rail and the second side of the side rails, and at least one rail extending outwardly from the circular rail, characterized in that the plurality of rails further comprises: a radially inner rail extending along the inner edge, the radially inner rail joining the first side of the side rails and the second side of the side rails, a radially outer rail extending along the outer edge, the radially outer rail joining the first side of the side rails and the second side of the side rails. a body having first and second side edges, an inner edge, an outer edge, a back surface and a front surface opposite the back surface, wherein an opening in the body communicates through the front and back surfaces (20,22), a plurality of effusion holes extending from the back surface to the front surface, the plurality of effusion holes providing discharge of the cooling air flow from the back surface to the front surface; and a plurality of rails disposed on the back surface for orienting and directing cooling air flow, the plurality of rails including: a first side of side rails disposed on the first side of lateral edges; a second side of the side rails disposed on a second side of the lateral edges; a circular rail disposed about the opening; first and second mid-rails extending from opposite sides of the circular rail, the first mid-rail joining the circular rail and the first side of the side rails, and the second mid-rail joining the circular rail and the second side of the side rails, and at least one rail extending outwardly from the circular rail, a first side of side rails disposed on the first side of lateral edges; a second side of the side rails disposed on a second side of the lateral edges; a circular rail disposed about the opening; first and second mid-rails extending from opposite sides of the circular rail, the first mid-rail joining the circular rail and the first side of the side rails, and the second mid-rail joining the circular rail and the second side of the side rails, and at least one rail extending outwardly from the circular rail, a radially inner rail extending along the inner edge, the radially inner rail joining the first side of the side rails and the second side of the side rails, a radially outer rail extending along the outer edge, the radially outer rail joining the first side of the side rails and the second side of the side rails.