Hearts' Zaliukas out to exorcise spectre of Pittodrie

MARIUS ZALIUKAS would have good reason to fear tomorrow's engagement with Aberdeen, given that he has won only once in six visits to Pittodrie and was sent off twice there last season. But the Lithuanian is an altogether more focused individual these days, reinforced by recent performances.

Imperious displays in central defence this season have imbued the player with fresh confidence. Indeed, most observers would concur that he is presently enjoying the finest vein of form in his three-and-a-half-year Tynecastle career. The defender nods accordingly when this is put to him.

The shy, introverted eastern European, who landed in Edinburgh from Kaunas in August 2006, is consigned to history, it seems. Zaliukas is now vice-captain of Hearts and one of the most vocal characters both in the dressing-room and on the field of play. He is displaying leadership skills far removed from the diffidence and occasional erraticness which plagued him as recently as last season.

Now 26, he is regarded very much as one of the elder statesman in an increasingly youthful Riccarton dressing-room. It is a role he has grown into with notable enthusiasm, and after two red cards in his last three visits to Aberdeen, he is ready to exorcise the ghosts of Pittodrie.

"That was last year, a long time ago," he said of dismissals for head-butting Lee Miller – which referee Iain Brines refused to rescind – and kicking Chris Maguire off the ball. "For me personally and for my team, we feel confident now we start to score goals. In two games we have five goals so we are looking forward to continuing our winning way.

"This year I just feel different than last year. Maybe I'm more mature. I want to keep my form and do my best for the team, I'm trying to do my best for the jersey at the moment. I'm in good form and I'm happy with that. Every game gives me more confidence and I'm trying to help the team to reach the top six.

"I'm in the top five of the oldest players in the team now. It's quite hard," he smiled. "It's a little bit disappointing that I'm getting older. I remember when I was young, I was arguing with older ones all the time when I played in Lithuania. Now I hate it when someone is arguing. They are just making jokes and that is okay. Being captain (he deputised for the suspended Michael Stewart in Hearts' last two matches] is just an armband. I'm just trying to play for the team and win every game."

There is little doubt the vice-captaincy and added responsibility has accelerated the maturing of this amiable defender. He will never be averse to a joke amongst peers but seems to now know how to adopt a different mindset when serious issues are at hand. That appears to be central to his evolution at Hearts.

Whilst concentrating on tomorrow's assignment in Aberdeen, Zaliukas is mindful of other potentially hazardous away trips looming on the horizon. Tomorrow Hearts embark on a three-game sequence away from Tynecastle, with visits to Tannadice and Fir Park coming hard on the heels of Pittodrie. Zaliukas knows the importance attached to his next month's work.

"We have Aberdeen, Dundee United and Motherwell away. Then it's Hibs at home," he said. "These four games will be our top four games of the season. These games can decide whether we make the top six or the bottom six. Aberdeen are close to us, St Johnstone are there, so every point is precious now."

While Zaliukas has taken it upon himself to improve his own discipline following a five-match SFA suspension which caused him to miss the start of the campaign, manager Jim Jefferies is attempting to implement a code of conduct for the entire Hearts squad. Senior club officials are frustrated by continual SFA fines and the recently-appointed manager is striving to address the matter promptly. He spent this week drawing up a list of disciplinary measures which will be presented to managing director Campbell Ogilvie for ratification next week.

"We are trying to play hard and we make strong tackles, obviously," explained Zaliukas. "I didn't notice anything in the last couple of weeks. Maybe everyone understands what has happened. Every booking means a softer game for the person who gets the yellow. If it's a strong tackle I don't have a problem with that."

Jefferies added: "We get the SFA sending in the disciplinary code, as all the clubs do. Our discipline has to improve. We've been fined too much money. Players won't be fined for every booking, that's silly. I want them in there competing. It's the silly things like talking back, kicking balls away and retaliation that are the problem."

As vice-captain, Zaliukas must now lead by example and has incurred only two yellow cards in 16 outings this season – a marked improvement on years gone by. However, despite becoming a defensive mainstay, he is unsure of what the future may hold. His current loan from FBK Kaunas expires in December, although it is almost certain Hearts would move to extend the stay of one of their most experienced players.

"I have ten months and two days to go until my loan finishes," said Zaliukas. "Now I'm just playing and not thinking about that. I haven't had any offers. When I get any offers I will consider them, for now I just play."

If he plays tomorrow the way he has done in recent weeks, Zaliukas can be confident of banishing the demons which have frequently haunted him in the north-east.