Lee Wallace: Let's make sure we are Bairn again ...

WITH three potentially hazardous away fixtures looming on the horizon, Hearts have good reason to try and build momentum by securing their second successive SPL victory tomorrow against Hamilton Academical.

Last weekend's triumph over Falkirk, the first of Jim Jefferies' second tenure as manager, lifted confidence levels at Tynecastle following a sequence of four matches without a win.

Scoring three goals in the process, for the first time since last May's 3-0 home triumph over Dundee United, further boosted morale.

It is imperative, therefore, that the good work of last Saturday is not undone against a plucky and resilient Hamilton side, particularly when glancing ahead to upcoming matches.

Hearts visit Pittodrie next Saturday for a lunchtime kick-off before heading to Tannadice on Sunday, 7 March to face Dundee United. They continue on their travels to Fir Park to face Motherwell the following weekend and return to Gorgie for the Edinburgh derby against Hibernian on Saturday, 20 March.

Negotiating such a tough schedule is likely to provide Jefferies and his squad with a thorough examination of their top-six credentials and they are looking to set off on the correct foot tomorrow, determined to continue from where they finished against Falkirk.

Lee Wallace, scorer of the opening goal last weekend, is confident of maintaining progress and also declared his happiness at overcoming recent injury problems which saw him in and out of the side.

"I'm back playing games, so I'm happy," he said today. "A couple of months ago we had a nice wee unbeaten run, and after winning on Saturday we're looking forward to continuing our winning streak.

"At different spells in the season my confidence and form have been up then down.

"That's natural for anyone in a football team to go through, but when your team's winning and confidence is high it can be of huge benefit to an individual.

"So again, after that win last week, our confidence is high. We've had a good week training and we're looking forward to the game tomorrow."

Events last time Hearts and Hamilton met at New Douglas Park in December are not expected to hold significant influence over tomorrow's affair. Wallace was not one of the protagonists in the infamous post-match tunnel brawl and is keen for football to make the headlines this time round.

"What happened the last time was quickly brushed away," he continued. "It's a game of football, it's not about what goes on outwith that.

"We'll be professional and try and play football."

The 22-year-old is eager to discover whether he will be included in Craig Levein's first Scotland squad on Monday morning.

He waited a considerable length of time for full international recognition from George Burley, Levein's predecessor, despite performing consistently for Hearts and helping the club qualify for Europe last season.

He was eventually handed his first cap in October in the 2-0 friendly defeat by Japan in Yokohama, followed by another appearance in the disappointing 3-0 loss to Wales in Cardiff the next month.

Levein has watched Wallace at close quarters this year but the defender has received no indication of whether he will be in the squad to face Czech Republic at Hampden Park next month.

Other contenders for the left-back berth include English-born Danny Fox of Burnley, while Levein may wish to promote a player he signed whilst Dundee United manager, Paul Dixon, to the international fold.

"Maybe in a few games this season I've made it to the standard I was at last season, but not consistently. That's something I've got to aim for," said Wallace. "With the international game coming up, I've got to look to recapture the form that got me involved in the friendly against Japan. It was a huge honour to play in that game."

Levein was Hearts manager when Wallace joined the club as a raw 16-year-old, although, within seven months, he quickly progressed to make a first-team debut under Levein's successor, John Robertson,

"I was just on the ground staff when he (Levein] was here, so I was never able to work with him. But his record speaks for itself and he's a huge asset for the international scene," said Wallace.

"I'm hungry for more. Whether I'm involved in the friendly next month is up to them, obviously. Again it would be massive to be involved in it, because to represent your country is a huge confidence factor and a huge honour.

"Personally, I have to target Scotland's next game as I have been involved in the last couple of friendles. I want to stay involved as long as I can but it is up to the manager to decide.

"First and foremost at club level I'm looking to finish the season on a high by getting into the top six then trying to get as high up the table as possible."

Wallace had also hoped to see Hearts colleague Andy Driver called up by Scotland but the Oldham-born winger has been deemed ineligible as he has not completed a full five years' schooling in Scotland – falling just four months short.

"It's disappointing but Andrew's situation is outwith myself or his control.

"The decision has been made but it would have been nice to play together at that level. The situation is what it is and we just have to get on with it."