Hearts: Standing up to the task

• Hearts are confident that this weekend's match will go ahead

A build up of ice and snow on the main stand roof has fallen and pulled down sections of piping and iron gutter, prompting the club into a clean-up operation.

Aberdeen, under the temporary guidance of former players Neil Cooper and Neil Simpson following Mark McGhee's dismissal, are scheduled to arrive at Tynecastle on Saturday for a 3pm kick-off. Officials at Tynecastle have stressed that the match should still be able to take place.

"Some damage has been caused after the snow and ice came off the roof of the main stand," said a Hearts spokesperson.

"We are working hard to resolve the issues and are confident they will not prevent the game against Aberdeen from going ahead.

"We are liaising with the relevant authorities and have kept Aberdeen informed of the situation.

"We remain hopeful of staging the match on Saturday."

Hearts have been inactive for the last two weekends with inclement weather forcing the postponement of matches away to Motherwell and Rangers. Jim Jefferies' side now enter a potentially pivotal three-game period with Aberdeen at home followed by the re-arranged Motherwell game on Tuesday before Inverness visit Tynecastle on Saturday week.

Aberdeen have won only once in Gorgie in the last four years as Hearts have held the upper hand in meetings between the two clubs. However, they recorded a convincing 3-0 victory there in January this year which proved to be the final match of Csaba Laszlo's tenure as Hearts manager.