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.