Hearts at critical point in season says Jim Jefferies

HEARTS are entering their most critical period of the season according to manager Jim Jefferies, who leads his side to Fir Park this afternoon before successive high-octane home encounters with Hibs and Rangers.

• Jim Jefferies

Jefferies today implored his players to seize the opportunity to both cement the club's top-six status and close in on possible European qualification for next season. He believes one victory in any of the forthcoming games could be sufficient to finalise a top-six place but stressed the need for dedication through to the SPL split next month.

With Hearts currently pursuing Motherwell, Hibs and Dundee United, Jefferies expressed that they may hold a slender advantage as the club under the least pressure during the run-in.

"We're down to the business end of the season now, as it's called," he said.

"The next two weeks are going to be great for us if we can get a couple of wins against teams above us and help close the gap.

"It will secure top six for us and then we'll see what we can do thereafter.

"It can be a lot easier for teams doing the chasing as opposed to those who already have the points in the bag.

"If we can take a win into the Hibs game then we see where we are after that."

While striving to prise optimum performance from those currently under his command, Jefferies has been busy assessing Hearts' on-loan youngsters with a view to including them in next season's first-team pool.

"I've taken the opportunity to go and watch Ryan McGowan playing for Ayr and I watched Jonathan Brown for Livingston the other night. They will come into the equation if they are good enough when they come back," he continued.

"You want to know what you're going in with next season and that's what I'm taking care of at the moment."