Hearts could welcome back captain Michael Stewart today in the game against Rangers for his first appearance for almost two months. The midfielder has been sitting on the sidelines with a troublesome calf injury but returned to training on Thursday. Defenders Ismael Bouzid and Dawid Kucharski (both hamstring) could also be in the travelling squad, as could striker Gordon Smith (groin). However, manager Jim Jeffries knows that Gary Glen (hamstring) is extremely doubtful, and Andrew Driver (thigh), Jose Goncalves, Ryan Stevenson (both knee), Janos Balogh (wrist), Marian Kello (hand) and Johnny Stewart (knee) are all out. Having sneaked into the top six last weekend, Jeffries is now looking to overtaking one or both of Motherwell and Hibs and sealing a Europa League place.Jefferies said: "There's probably a bit less pressure on us in the fact we're not looking over our shoulders because nobody can catch us. But we can catch others and that should be a big enough incentive.''
JJ claims silly mistakes were the only difference between Hearts and Rangers when they met three weeks ago. The Jambos went down to their heaviest home defeat for more than two years when they lost 4-1 at the end of last month. But JJ insists his side more than held their own against Walter Smith's title-chasers until defensive lapses gifted the visitors' their second and third goals. He said: "I thought we played extremely well against Rangers last time. After losing the early goal, we got the equaliser and were on top. (Rangers captain) Davie Weir said after the game he thought we were on top until we made a mistake and got punished. Losing the goal just after half-time with another mistake meant it went flat and down which can happen. Rangers had their tails up but we gifted them the win with the mistakes and they punished us."
Jefferies believes they need to reproduce March's first-half display for 90 minutes at Ibrox to keep their opponents' title celebrations on ice. Jefferies, whose side went into the clubs' last meeting on the back of an Edinburgh derby win, added: "If we can reproduce our first-half performance then we'll do well because that was a follow on from the Hibs display."
Whatever happens, Jefferies is just glad not to be involved at the wrong end of the table, having helped keep Kilmarnock afloat for the last two seasons. The man who left Rugby Park in January before returning for a second spell in the Tynecastle hotseat said: "This league is so tight and everyone knows each other but whether it helps the quality of football, I'm not sure. There will be some tense moments but you'll get excitement. Teams will give their all, blood and thunder. It's how you view it and there will be some nervous moments but Kilmarnock have been there and done it, which will be a big help to them."
Asked who he thought would be relegated, Jefferies added: "It's too close to call. I was looking at Falkirk because Steven Pressley was right, they were playing well but not winning but now they've won a couple, which changes the whole thing. They're the team with a bit of momentum, so it's going to be a real dogfight."
Hearts could welcome back captain Michael Stewart today in the game against Rangers for his first appearance for almost two months. The midfielder has been sitting on the sidelines with a troublesome calf injury but returned to training on Thursday. Defenders Ismael Bouzid and Dawid Kucharski (both hamstring) could also be in the travelling squad, as could striker Gordon Smith (groin). However, manager Jim Jeffries knows that Gary Glen (hamstring) is extremely doubtful, and Andrew Driver (thigh), Jose Goncalves, Ryan Stevenson (both knee), Janos Balogh (wrist), Marian Kello (hand) and Johnny Stewart (knee) are all out. Having sneaked into the top six last weekend, Jeffries is now looking to overtaking one or both of Motherwell and Hibs and sealing a Europa League place.Jefferies said: "There's probably a bit less pressure on us in the fact we're not looking over our shoulders because nobody can catch us. But we can catch others and that should be a big enough incentive.''