Derek McInnes has no doubts Hearts can handle occasion against Rangers

Derek McInnes backed his Hearts players to handle the heat of one of the biggest games Tynecastle has ever staged as they bid to take a huge step towards their first Scottish Premiership title in 66 years.

The table-topping Jambos can all but eliminate Rangers from the three-way battle for the championship if they defeat Danny Rohl’s side in their penultimate home game of the season on Monday.

McInnes is heartened by the way his side have handled high-stakes matches throughout the campaign and has no worries about their ability to deal with the magnitude of the occasion inside what promises to be a frenzied Tynecastle.

“The players have shown the bigger the game, the bigger the performance, so I don’t think there’s a question mark over ‘are they going to be up for it?’ or ‘are they going to be ready to deal with it?’” said the manager.

“We might not win the game but it’ll have nothing to do with mentality or lack of motivation. The players have responded to these types of games brilliantly.

“The fact we’ve been unbeaten at Tynecastle this season, hopefully that serves us well going into it but it doesn’t give you any guarantees.

“With the players Rangers have got, the motivation on their side, it’s going to be a proper scrap but we’re ready for it, we feel good about it.

“Hopefully we can come out the other end of it and then maybe the Falkirk game will be the biggest game at Tynecastle the following week after that.

“I’m well aware of the enormity of each and every game but it’s my job to just give confidence to the players.

“It’s just about concentrating on performance because that’s still the biggest driver of winning games of football: keeping discipline, keeping focus and trying to deliver a big performance individually.”

McInnes hopes Hearts’ supporters can park their anxiety at the entrance to the stadium and make sure it is as raucous as it has ever been.

“We just want Tynecastle to be in its full glory,” he said. “We want it to be even better than it’s been. To the supporters: bring your scarves, show your colours, let’s go and make it a proper night.

“We see it as a fight that we can win, but win, lose or draw, we’re still in the fight.

“I understand the nerves but I want the supporters not to be nervous, I want them to try and see their role as vitally important, to get behind the team.

“I think we’re all enjoying it, ourselves and the fans, but we all kind of want it to be over as well. It’s a nice situation to be in.

“We’re just delighted we’re in the fight, this is what I wanted for the club and the fact that it’s come so quickly for us this season is something we’ve got to try and enjoy and hopefully reflect at the end on a brilliant season’s work.”