Hearts looking for a breath of fresh Ayrshire

The Edinburgh side are seeking a fourth successive victory there having last lost away to Kilmarnock three-and-a-half years ago. October 27, 2007, was the last time Hearts left Ayrshire pointless after suffering a 3-1 defeat. They have recorded a draw and three victories there in the intervening period and reserve the right to be relatively upbeat travelling down the M77 this weekend. However, they confront a home squad for whom motivation is plentiful.

Kilmarnock players want to exonerate interim manager Kenny Shiels of blame for their lack of a victory since Mixu Paatelainen departed for Finland. They have won only once in the last six outings, with two draws, two defeats and nine goals conceded following Paatelainen's exit.

"We haven't had the best results over the last few weeks and the way we've played hasn't been a fair reflection on Kenny," admitted Craig Bryson, the Kilmarnock captain. "So we want to get a good result for him this week.

"He was the assistant under Mixu and now's he's in charge and he's been excellent with us. All the boys get on with him and he has good ideas.

"We basically play the same way we did under Mixu, we just haven't been doing as well individually in recent games. Our performances over the last few weeks haven't been good enough and all the players know that. We need to do well for Kenny between now and the end of the season. We have four games to give him a better chance of getting the job permanently.

"Hearts could be saying the same as us about their own results. They will want to bounce back the same way we do. Both teams haven't been in the best of form over the last month or so and they will both want to change that."

Ironically, Kilmarnock's two encounters with Hearts at Tynecastle this season saw them produce rampant performances. October's 3-0 success was followed by a 2-0 victory in Edinburgh in March, putting a topsy-turvy slant on meetings between the clubs.

"We've beaten Hearts twice at Tynecastle this season but they got the better of us at Rugby Park. I'm sure this one's going to be a good game," added Bryson. "Hearts are a big physical team and the way Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown like to play the game always makes it tough for the opposition. We know if we get back to the way we were playing when Mixu was here then we can get a result."

Michael Johnston, the Kilmarnock chairman, is taking time to assess Shiels' credentials before deciding on a permanent successor to Paatelainen. A shedload of managerial CVs have dropped on the Rugby Park doormat in recent weeks, one of them from the former Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo. Johnston knows he must get his decision correct because whoever is appointed will undertake a massive rebuilding programme.

Alexei Eremenko is the most high-profile player leaving Kilmarnock as his loan from the Ukrainian club Metalist Kharkiv expires. Mahamadou Sissoko is also due to return to his parent club, Udinese. Rui Miguel, Manuel Pascali, Frazer Wright, Jamie Hamill and goalkeeper Cameron Bell are out of contract, as is Mehdi Taouil. The Moroccan has visited Riccarton for contract talks with Hearts but is unlikely to play this weekend due to injury. Hamill, meanwhile, has received an approach from Hibs.

"It looks like it will just be another normal summer for Kilmarnock," said Bryson. "I think whoever the new manager is has a big job on their hands to rebuild the squad. There are a few players out of contract, others on loan who will be going back to their clubs. I'd say it's going to be a tough job to build the squad up again.

"Our loan players are going to be very difficult to replace. We've been really lucky with them this season. It's going to be really difficult for a manager to come in and get those types of players on loan again. Kilmarnock have no money to go out and buy players so it will just be free transfers and players on loan. Hopefully the chairman makes a decision on the new manager soon to give whoever it is time to get a squad together."

Subject of a transfer bid from Hearts last summer, Bryson is considering whether pastures new may benefit him too after four years with Kilmarnock. The midfielder's contract does not expire until next summer, however.

"If there's a team wanting me then they have to buy me. I'm just like every other player, I want to play at the highest level I can. If I get the chance to do that then I'd be delighted," he said.

"I really enjoyed working under Jim and Billy but I'll be giving 100 per cent against them on Saturday. I haven't heard anything from Hearts since the last time. That's down to my agent. He will speak to them to see if there's anything happening and we'll take it from there."

It is doubtful whether Hearts will reignite their interest in Bryson having been rebuffed last year, and especially with Taouil on their radar as a free agent. "I'm not surprised Hearts are interested in him, not one bit," said Bryson. "Jim was his manager at Kilmarnock and you could see every day how good a player Mehdi is. There is no surprise to anybody at Kilmarnock that he has been linked with Hearts.

"He played in Europe when he was in France so I don't think he'd have a problem adjusting to that level. There's no doubt he can step up. He's probably the most skilful player I've ever played with. He's so hard to get off the ball, some of the things he can do with a football are unbelievable.

"When he's in possession it's so hard to get it off him. He must be a nightmare for the opposition to play against. Sometimes you resort to kicking him, it's just the Scottish way," he laughed.

Hearts supporters aren't likely to see Taouil in action on Saturday, but Bryson and the rest of the Kilmarnock squad will be keen to end the Edinburgh club's winning sequence at Rugby Park. Their futures, and Shiels', may depend on it.