Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Hearts host title rivals Rangers on Monday.
Here are the key lines from the Tynecastle boss:
McInnes wishes the game against Rangers “was tomorrow” such is the excitement about the fixture: “There’s obviously a lot riding on the game and we can’t downplay that. Why would we?”
Cammy Devlin and Harry Milne are both “progressing well” and McInnes hopes one of the pair will be available.
McInnes urges the fans not to be nervous. He wants to see Tynecastle “in its full glory” and is hoping it’s a “proper night”, adding: “We want it to be even better than it’s been. To the supporters, bring your scarves, show your colours, give it laldy.”
Hearts always feel they are “the underdog” in games against Celtic and Rangers but are “an underdog with real belief in what we’re doing – and the results we’ve had have been a testament to that”.
Whatever the result on Monday night, McInnes says nothing will be decided but Hearts are “determined to make the most of the opportunity, particularly at Tynecastle”.
He adds: “We might not win the game but it’ll have nothing to do with mentality or lack of motivation.”
“There are no gimmies” in the post-split fixtures and all are “extremely difficult”.
McInnes says there is a “responsibility” on Hearts now to get the title “done and over the line” but it is “not without its challenges”.
On whether he expects a message from Sir Alex Ferguson, who has been giving advice to McInnes this season, the Hearts boss says: “Who knows? I don’t expect anything, it’s just nice when you do get these little messages of support from somebody who’s lived in that and done so much in the game.”
Hearts’ preparation has been “laidback” and McInnes adds: “We’ve deliberately not spoken about Rangers too early in the week.”
On Rangers, McInnes says: “When you spend £40m assembling a squad, you expect to win games. So for us to even be top ahead of a team who have spent that type of money is an incredible achievement from our point of view.”
He expects a “proper scrap” on Monday night and insists Hearts are ready for it, insisting the “biggest driver” in winning games is “keeping discipline, keeping focus”.
Table-topping Hearts are “delighted” to be in the fight and McInnes says: “I think we’re all enjoying it – including the fans – but we all kind of want it to be over as well.”
McInnes has recalled right-back Adam Forrester from his co-operation loan at St Johnstone to cover “every eventuality” during the title run-in.
