Preview: Hearts (h)

Hearts have played us four times this season and only beaten us once. That came several months ago and even then we had enough chances to equalise before we eventually went down 2-0 at Fir Park. The next two games came at Tynecastle when we showed our power to recover. Once to win with two second half goals and in the cup, Porter struck to grab us a replay. That replay, the last meeting between the teams, was an unspectacular clash but once more we had the better of it and won by the only goal.

Hearts have managed to put their abysmal pre-Christmas run behind them and they are now right in the fight for a top six place. Indeed, should they beat us they will maintain their wafer thin chances of finishing third. Kingston has been missing for a while and will hopefully do so again but they do have some other good players. Velicka and Nade cause us plenty of problems in attack and their 4-4-2 has stretched us across the middle of the park.

From our point of view Porter will hopefully still be fit after some issues recently while the big doubt is Stephen Hughes. He missed out on Wednesday against Gretna and even though his stand in, Keith Lasley, did well enough there is no doubt a fit and on form Hughes is vitally important to us.

The defence and goalkeeper had another mixed game and they will need to continue their improvement. The pressure is only going to get greater as the season draws to a close and with some hard games to play winning at home is a must.

There is no guarantee that three points here will clinch Europe for us but a win would all but secure the top six. We can then look to build from that and hopefully we will get that opportunity with a 2-1 win.

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