Hearts may have a Scottish Cup final to look forward to but Dundee United manager Peter Houston believes the Jambos’ players will be fully focused on league business on Saturday.
Houston has first-hand experience of the tricky juggling act facing Tynecastle boss Paulo Sergio at the moment, having guided the Tangerines to triumph in the showcase cup competition in 2010.
Whether his counterpart will have the luxury he had of being able to rest key players prior to the final remains to be seen.
However, Houston does know everyone selected in a Hearts jersey will be desperate to impress and win a place for the Hampden showdown with Hibs.
He said: ”It will be a tough game against Hearts as I honestly think they have a good set of players and manager. Paulo Sergio has done a brilliant job. In fact, I don’t think there is a manager in the SPL who has done a poor one and I include Jim McIntyre before he left his position.”
The United boss added: “Paulo has done great to get Hearts to a cup final. Those are always the expectation levels at a club like Hearts.
”A lot of people may think their eye will be off the ball with the final coming up but I don’t agree as they have too many good players to do that.
”Then there are the ones who might come in who are dying to get a place for the cup final so, if anything, it will be a tougher match than normal.”
United have won all three games against Hearts so far this season, but Houston knows they will have to work to make it a fabulous four.
He said: ”At stages in the games, I think Hearts could have won every one. They have been really tight and there has been absolutely nothing between us.
“Two sterling defensive performances have got us results at Tynecastle, which is one of the hardest places to go outwith the Old Firm. We will have to defend well again on Saturday as they are a threat.”
Houston is sweating over the fitness of Gavin Gunning, who injured his shoulder against St Johnstone last week.
The Irishman’s fellow centre-half Garry Kenneth has returned to training but Saturday’s game may be too soon for him to make a comeback from his hamstring injury.