Hearts can cap superb run of form by seeing off defending SPL champs Rangers

IF Old Trafford is England's Theatre of Dreams, Tynecastle is its Scottish equivalent. The raucous atmosphere, intimidating surroundings and glistening playing surface are well documented, but for years supporters in Gorgie have conjured visions in their minds of what a sustained title challenge would be like. Tomorrow those dreams can take a step closer to reality at one of Scottish football's theatres.

As Rangers arrive in Edinburgh, there is no longer a need to imagine that assault on the Old Firm's duopoly of Scottish football. It's happening. Right here, right now, in front of our very eyes. Whether it can be sustained will be determined by results over the coming ten days as Hearts embark on fixtures against Rangers (twice), Celtic and St Johnstone. More than 16,000 tickets have been sold for tomorrow, ensuring Tynecastle will be at its tumultuous best for a second-versus-third lunchtime showdown. Victory will move Hearts to within two points of Rangers and four of SPL leaders Celtic, their hopes lifted by the potential return of top goalscorer Kevin Kyle and the talismanic Rudi Skacel. The departure of the SPL's top scorer, Kenny Miller, from Ibrox will also do their case no harm.

Motivation has seldom been higher at the club's Riccarton training base as manager Jim Jefferies, right, and his players sense an opportunity to impose themselves at the top. Not since 1960 have Hearts won the league championship, although they did split the Old Firm as recently as 2006.

Confidence is fully restored after the invigorating midweek win against Kilmarnock. However, it would be foolhardy to dismiss the threat of any Old Firm side. Hearts dispensed with Celtic in a comfortable 2-0 win at Tynecastle back in November and are confident, although not complacent, about effecting a repeat. The stage is set for an intriguing confrontation.

"This is where Rangers and Celtic don't make it easy for you," explained Jefferies. "They have experience of teams getting close to them before and this is when they are at their most resilient too. When anyone threatens them, they can up their game too. It's not going to be easy but we have belief and confidence and spirit and we need to show that and play to our very best.

"I would be disappointed if the players didn't have the belief they could challenge the Old Firm. When you are winning games and playing well as we are, if you don't have confidence that you can go on and get a result then that would be disappointing. After Kilmarnock beat us, we beat Hibs then we beat Celtic at home.

"We got a good result and that shows when we are on top of our game we will give anyone a game. So the players should have belief in themselves. We have given ourselves an opportunity and the good thing is we go into the game with no pressure because we have built up a wee cushion on the team in fourth place.

"I looked at the squad before the start of the season and I told them they should be challenging. Others won't make it easy for you but you have to compete for third and get closer to a challenge at the top. The players have done that but there's a long way to go and a lot of points to be lost. But we are putting pressure on other teams because they need to go on a run and hope we collapse. It's a good position to be in.

"We haven't guaranteed anything. First and foremost let's try and stay in third and then if we can beat the big two when they come around then we will only get closer to them.

"The players are experienced enough to know they are on a good run, that they have confidence and they are difficult to play against. But as Stephen Elliott said in an article, the other teams know they have to raise their game and it gets tougher the longer the run goes on. As we found out in the cup, if you don't perform you can get caught. But we've responded and now we need to focus on having a really good season at the top of the table."

Jefferies' hopes are echoed throughout Gorgie and beyond as many non-Old Firm fans pin their hopes on Hearts usurping the Glasgow duo. Even splitting them would be a start. For either scenario to materialise, much responsibility rests on the shoulders of Kyle and Skacel. The striker's groin injury and the midfielder's calf tear will be assessed late before a final decision is taken on their fitness.

"The chances are better than earlier in the week," said Jefferies. "They are not 100 per cent certain, it will depend on how they react to tough training sessions before we make a decision. They are both desperate to play and there's every chance they will. Am I tempted to gamble? I've not decided yet.

"Rudi played against Hibs and aggravated his injury so we have to be sensible this time. There's no point sending him out on Saturday and then him being out for another four games.

"We will just have to see how they react. We need to make sure they are confident of playing and playing well and not suffering any further aggravations. Some players are very honest and others just want to play, You have to discuss with the physio and then you have to decide.

"I have to stress to them that they would be letting the squad down if they played and weren't 100 per cent fit. I would be pretty angry if there was someone fit on the bench bursting to play and someone is out there not fully fit.

"If you've not got the squad then sometimes you have to take a gamble but we have a big squad with most players fit. Ultimately it's up to me whether I take the risk or not."

While Jefferies contemplates reinstating his top goalscorer, his Rangers counterpart Walter Smith must continue without Miller after the striker agreed terms on a move to the Turkish club Bursaspor. "Kenny Miller's loss would weaken any team but he doesn't do it on his own for Rangers," opined Jefferies. "They have won matches when Kenny hasn't been playing. Maybe Walter's not got as big a squad as he had in the past but they've got a resilience and determination when their backs are against the wall in terms of their finances. That makes people pull together and I heard him saying a few weeks ago that's what they've got to do.

"They know what's expected of them. There's a lot more pressure on them and Celtic because fans demand they win the league. When anyone puts their head up to challenge that just makes them more determined to keep what they have got. But it's down to confidence and belief and spirit and hopefully we can show that ourselves. We know it's a difficult game but hopefully Rangers will leave Tynecastle on Saturday knowing they have been in a tough match."

The stage is set, the main characters are in place and the curtain is about to rise at a footballing theatre where title dreams have stayed long in the mind.