Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara has warned that facing a Hearts team on the brink of relegation could be dangerous.
The Tangerines can’t send the Jam Tarts down to the Championship by beating them at Tynecastle tonight, but what they can do is set up an opportunity for Hibs to do the deed in the Edinburgh derby at the Gorgie ground on March 30.
Being relegated by their deadly rivals at their own stadium is a nightmare scenario for Hearts and something they will want to avoid at all costs.
Therefore, they will be desperate to take something out of this evening’s clash with McNamara’s men.
He said: “The Hearts fans will want to see their team go down fighting. They will want to see the players continue to battle hard like they have done all season.
“The players will also want to do as well as they can and win as many games as possible in what remains of the season.
“It is disappointing what has happened to Hearts off the field. In such cases, it’s always the fans and the players who suffer.
“But their manager Gary Locke has given a great account of himself. He has conducted himself really well over the season and deserves great credit for that.
“Like most people, he’ll want to see Hearts in the top division and it’s a fixture I’ll miss next season.
“We know they will be desperate to win but, from our point of view, we have to concentrate on our own game because another crucial game for us and we want to get the three points.
“We will go down there and make sure we try and win the game.”
For United, Motherwell’s victory over Inverness Caley Thistle was a mixed blessing.
It meant they stayed two points clear of the Highlanders but fell seven behind the third-placed Well, who are just behind Aberdeen on goal difference.
Obviously, victory tonight will put a bit of pressure back on the sides above them and McNamara hasn’t yet given up on catching the Steelmen and Dons.
The manager said: “As we reach this stage of the season, I would say I still think there is much more for us to improve upon.
“I would like to be further up the table and there is still a lot to play for both in the league and the Scottish Cup.
“Second place will always be the target until it’s impossible. We know it’s a big ask but we will give it a go.
“Motherwell has another good result against Inverness in midweek and Aberdeen are going well as well.
“All we can do is keep winning and hope that other teams slip up and that we do well when we come up against them.”
The Tangerines have new no fresh injuries and there was some good news regarding on-loan Newcastle central defender Curtis Good, who has been sidelined with a hip injury.
“We should have some news about him in the next couple of weeks,” said McNamara.
“He is still not fit yet but I think he’s going to try and do some running this week.
“We are hopeful he can make the Scottish Cup semi-final. He is down in Newcastle just now but he might try and come back up here next week, depending on what happens when he sees the doctor down there.”