Neilson relishes tough run-in
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson is glad the fixture list keeps throwing up big games - because he does not want his Scottish Championship kings to slow down.
The Jambos have already clinched the second-tier crown and will be given a guard of honour by Rangers when they run out at Ibrox on Sunday.
But with the Ibrox side due to visit Tynecastle on the final day of the season and an Edinburgh derby clash with Hibernian to come next weekend, Neilson hopes his men will continue racking up the wins that will see them past the second-tier points record of 89 set by their city rivals back in 1999.
Hearts already sit on 81 and Neilson said: "It's been a hard season but we still have six games to go.
"The pleasing thing is that they are all big games. We have Rangers on Sunday at Ibrox before Alloa come here on Wednesday, then we go to Easter Road the following Sunday. There's also Rangers on the last day of the season.
"So it still gives us a focus and we must prepare properly for those games."
Hearts will travel to Glasgow with a near full-strength squad with only Dale Carrick (hamstring) and Prince Buaben (toe) missing.
Rangers boss Stuart McCall welcomes back Marius Zaliukas for the clash with the defender's former club.
The ex-Jambo missed last weekend's 4-1 win over Cowdenbeath after starting for Lithuania as they lost 4-0 to England at Wembley the night before.
Seb Faure (knee), Richard Foster (hernia), Steven Smith (back), Tom Walsh (hamstring) and the Newcastle quartet of Kevin Mbabu (fitness issues), Gael Bigirimana (infection), Remie Streete (ear infection and muscle strain) and Shane Ferguson (knee) all remain on the sidelines, however.
Source: PA
