Kilmarnock boss Paatelainen wary of a tough test ahead as Jefferies returns to Ayrshire with Hearts

The Hearts management of Jim Jefferies, Billy Brown and Gary Locke will be returning to Kilmarnock for the first time. They do so mindful of a 3-0 humbling by the Ayrshire club at Tynecastle in October, and will potentially be seeking revenge. Then there is the Craig Bryson transfer saga.

All things considered, a captivating encounter is in prospect. Both sides are enriched by results since their last contest and will seek to maximise prospects of European football next season by securing another three points.

Hearts' record of eight wins from the last ten fixtures ranks them as outside candidates for the league title itself, while Kilmarnock's five victories from eight sees them fifth in the SPL and still climbing following Tuesday's draw at Celtic Park.

Hearts' away results reinforce their status as potential championship challengers following six wins and just one defeat outwith their Gorgie domain this season. However, Kilmarnock's recent strength has been an impressive home record with only one loss at Rugby Park since their season was resuscitated with that result at Tynecastle.

For manager Mixu Paatelainen, leaving Glasgow unscathed in midweek was a fine achievement but following it with a visit from Hearts will test his team's fortitude. Jefferies, Brown and Locke will be determined to overcome their former employers, particularly in view of the result when the teams last met. Bryson might be keen on rejoining his former manager but contractually he is obliged to give 100 per cent for the Kilmarnock cause. In truth, he is not the sort to short change supporters or his club.Paatelainen expects a thorough examination of his team's credentials on Sunday from a side as difficult as any in the SPL.

"I think it will be entertaining. Hearts are coming to our place looking to take all three points so we need to be ready," he said. "Hopefully our attacking game is there and we can cause them one or two problems. We are taking this very seriously because we know the quality of the opponents.

"It's never easy to play against Hearts because they have quality players all over.

"Their players can hurt you and they are very solid defensively. They have powerful players and they are a very powerful team all round. It's very difficult to break them so I thought it was a great team performance against them last time.

"We passed the ball really well and scored some wonderful goals.

"We had actually been playing well before the Hearts game but just didn't get the results. We had made some stupid individual mistakes which cost us, but the performances had been good.

"We knew things would turn at some point and we would get a result, which turned out to be at Tynecastle."

Paatelainen arrived in Edinburgh somewhat beleaguered that afternoon with Kilmarnock bottom of the SPL. It was truly the day his team's season turned round. "You have to remember we were only bottom of the table because we had played less matches. The boys showed plenty character not to be fazed by it. They stuck to the task against a quality team and managed to get a good result against Hearts.

"In terms of results, we have been good since that day but our performances were good anyway. We changed a couple of things two or three weeks before the Hearts game and that seemed to work.

"Confidence is high now. Our results have been good and we took a point from Celtic Park on Tuesday, which is pleasing. Had we played to the best of our ability, we might have won the game. We scored a good goal again and I think we are a threat going forward. Hopefully there won't be any silly mistakes on Boxing Day."

The biggest danger to Hearts' aspirations is Kilmarnock's midweek goalscorer Conor Sammon. A striker in seemingly unstoppable form with 15 goals in 20 appearances this season, he has helped supporters banish the memory of Kevin Kyle who followed Jefferies to Edinburgh. Sammon has gone from pauper to predator in Ayrshire having struggled to establish himself prior to Paatelainen's arrival."The statistics are there," observed the Finn. "In the previous two seasons Conor had scored seven goals in all. Now he's more than doubled that tally in half a season. There's no secret. I've been working with him on his attacking play, what positions he takes up, his movement and how to finish. He's a lad who has plenty potential and plenty attributes to be a top player.

"He is strong, he's quick, he has a good level head, he's good in the air and his technical ability is good. So he has plenty confidence. If you just channel his energy, pace and work rate you get a lot out of Conor."

Kilmarnock have already moved to negotiate a new contract with Sammon ahead of the January transfer window. They anticipate interest in both him and Bryson but the former still has plenty groundwork to do in Ayrshire, according to his manager.

"I think there is plenty development in Conor," continued Paatelainen. "We are in talks at the moment to extend his contract, which are going well. He realises he still has flaws in his game. If he stays at Rugby Park for another couple of seasons and works hard day in, day out, he will develop more and then go on and explore the higher leagues.

"One day, if an offer comes for any player and the chairman says we accept the fee, then the player goes. That's how it works. I don't live in that fear at all. It's good for the club and it's good for the player if he can move on to a bigger team. It's good for the coaching staff if we can develop a player and further his career. It helps the club financially and in terms of our reputation of young players coming through the club. All parties are pleased in that situation.

"It is important that the club replace a player who leaves with someone of quality. That's how it goes. We are Kilmarnock Football Club. We can't, and we don't want to, hold on to our players forever. We want to develop them, they do a job for us and they move on. Simple as that."

Paatelainen has revitalised the Kilmarnock players admirably and mounted a challenge for European football. However, as a former Hibernian manager, he knows facing an in-form Hearts side is an altogether different proposition for them.