Marius Zaliukas sure Hearts can nail third place by split

MARIUS ZALIUKAS believes Hearts require just three more victories to secure third place in the SPL, insisting today that the achievement can be completed by the time the SPL splits next month.

Hearts entertain St Mirren at Tynecastle this afternoon and then face Hibs, Motherwell and Inverness before the league divides into two in mid-April. Although disappointed by a mini downturn in results of late, Zaliukas is unperturbed about Hearts' chances of finishing third.

They hold a 12-point advantage over fourth-placed Dundee United prior to this weekend's fixtures and the Lithuanian captain explained that another nine points should be sufficient to achieve the club's stated aim of being closest to the Old Firm. "In the last two games we have played tough teams, Kilmarnock and Dundee United.

"I wouldn't say we were unlucky to lose. We need to understand how why we lost.

"Maybe there is a little bit of pressure. We are not thinking about losing, we are confident we can secure third place," said Zaliukas.

"Probably if we win three games before the split, I think it's going to be over.

"As soon as possible is better but it's football and everyone can win a game."

Launching the club's Player of the Year award at Riccarton, Zaliukas happily put forward his own candidate for the honour. "Of course it would be Marian Kello. I don't see any other player apart from Marian," he said.

"He has a lot of clean sheets and a good goalkeeper is half of a team as I have said before.

"I don't want to insult or disrespect any other keepers here but from last year I was saying Marian should be our permanent goalie.

"He is playing every single week but before it wasn't like that.

"Probably the manager of Slovakia wanted stability from him and now he's got it, that's why he is in their national team."