Hearts' Ruben plans to re-draw the league

"No Queremos Otra Liga Escocesa," read a banner at Deportivo La Coruna's Riazor Stadium during a 4-0 trouncing by Barcelona earlier this month. The message translates as: "We don't want another Scottish league".

Like many SPL fans, supporters in Spain are unhappy with their two-team duopoly. For Rangers and Celtic in Scotland, read Real Madrid and Barca in La Liga.

Hearts are seeking to muscle in on the Old Firm this season and their Spanish midfielder, Ruben Palazuelos, would like nothing better than to change the perception of the SPL in his homeland.

"I saw the banner and I know people in other countries say it's always Rangers and Celtic," said Palazuelos, ahead of tonight's engagement at Celtic Park. "Maybe this season it will be Hearts, you never know.

"I think every country is the same. In Spain it is always Real Madrid and Barcelona and in Italy Milan and Inter. At the moment Hearts are in third position and maybe have the opportunity to go to second or even more, but first we must only focus on the game against Celtic and see what happens.

"Most often in the newspapers and radio in Spain when they talk about the Scottish league they talk only about the Celtic and the Rangers but it's okay. They are big clubs here with most money, but maybe this season Hearts will do something important."

Palazuelos believes Hearts have the potential to cause an upset by winning the SPL title this season. They head to Glasgow seven points behind league leaders Celtic with a game in hand.

"At the moment Hearts are doing very well in third and I know it will be difficult to go first because Celtic and Rangers are most often there. I don't like Spanish people talking about that, but it's okay, I understand that.

"I laughed when I saw the banner a little bit because everyone is talking about Celtic and Rangers and they don't know about Hearts and the other clubs.

"I do my work and maybe one day they will speak about Hearts."