St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright still fears he will lose star striker Stevie May to Rotherham United.
But not before this week’s Europa League return leg with Slovakian side Spartak Trnava.
May is being chased by the cash-rich promoted Championship side after failing to pen a contract extension at McDiarmid and could get the chance to sign off in style.
The Millers will have to come up with around £800,000 to secure their long-term target, who got a surprise 45-minute run in a one-sided testimonial game for long-time Perth servant Steven Anderson.
A thigh strain kept him out of the first leg, which ended 2-1 for the Slovakians.
Wright said: “Stevie is still our player and if I was a betting man I’d say he’d still be our player on Thursday and will play in Slovakia. The clubs are still talking but he will be playing in Europe for us.
“Rotherham have been interested in Stevie for a long time and they keep banging at the door. They’ve come back a few times now, they’ve not gone away and seem determined to get their man.
“But nothing’s agreed yet, there’s still discussions going on between the two clubs.”
Testimonial man Anderson played his way into contention for the European tie but he admitted it wasn’t the result he wanted.
“I’m gutted. Hearts wanted it more than us. It wasn’t good enough, especially from me because I was shocking. We treated it as a friendly and that’s not what I wanted. We had a makeshift team and it didn’t work.
“But it’s still been a great day, I appreciate the fans turning out Saints and Hearts fans.”
The appearance of May in the youthful Perth starting line-up was a bonus for fans turning up to pay tribute to his team-mate.
Adding intrigue to the mix, the Scotland U21 international was partnered by a potential recruit in the shape of former Motherwell striker David Clarkson, who is a free agent after parting company with relegated Bristol Rovers.
The 28-year-old had been training with the Fir Park club but no contract offer was forthcoming.
Former Dundee United and Falkirk midfielder Mark Millar also got another run hard on the heels of a game against York City.
Both teams provided Anderson with a guard of honour before the game got under way in front of 2,182 fans, including 718 from the capital.
The defender was starting his first match since the Scottish Cup final win over Dundee United after recovering from a hamstring strain.
In the 16th minute Michael O’Halloran pulled up with a dead leg and was immediately replaced by Dylan Easton. But, like midfielder Chris Millar, he will travel to Slovakia.
With most of Wright’s key personnel kept in reserve for Europe, the visitors from Edinburgh were in command from the opening period, with veteran keeper Stevie Banks kept busy before being replaced by Mark Hurst.
Only O’Halloran and Gary Miller had started against the Slovak side on Thursday and the capital club’s crop of kids provided ample evidence that they are well ahead of the Perth youngsters in terms of development after being blooded last term in the top flight.
Banks was beaten twice in the space of two minutes as Hearts picked apart the Perth backline.
In the 31st minute lanky Swedish striker Osman Sow bundled over Tam Scobbie before cutting inside Anderson and the keeper had no chance as the close range shot whizzed past him.
Within 120 seconds Hearts had doubled their advantage. This time Jason Holt had time on his hands to take aim on the edge of the Perth penalty area and drilled a precise shot into the corner of the net.
Saints sparked to life before the interval but keeper Neil Alexander pushed away an angled Clarkson volley before May fed Liam Caddis to test the former Rangers number one.
Hearts changed their line-up at the interval while Saints opted to replace May with teenage prospect Chris Kane.
But the pattern continued unchanged, with the capital side extending their advantage in the 55th when Gary Oliver buried a Jordan McGhee cross.
And in the 69th minute Oliver calmly stroked a fourth past exposed teenage keeper Mark Hurst. Kane had a late chance to snatch a consolation goal for Saints but his header was off target.