Steven Naismith: Securing third place in Premiership will bring 'nice enjoyment' to end of season

Steven Naismith says securing third place in the Premiership will bring a “nice enjoyment” to the end of the season for Hearts.

The Tynecastle club are 11 points ahead of fourth placed Kilmarnock with five games left to play, meaning they could guarantee third with a victory over Derek McInnes’ side on Saturday.

And while the manager insists it won’t change anything in regards to how they approach their remaining games, he said it will bring a more relaxed environment and allow them to start looking towards next season.

But despite the result at Rugby Park this weekend, Naismith will still keep pushing his side to try and reach the 70 point mark.

Speaking to the media on Friday, he said: “Automatically getting confirmed third won’t mean we just change everything we’re doing, it might give you a bit more scope to see where boys’ injuries are and who’s trying to push through rather than been forced to have to play players.

“But, what it does is it probably brings a really nice enjoyment to the last month of the season.

“Now I’ve been in football a long time that you don’t often get them moments, or that period of time where it’s a really relaxed environment.

“I think that’s probably the biggest thing that will change. But there’s still a drive here like I’ve said before, I think we’ve got a good opportunity to get more than 70 points and I think that’s realistic to push on and try and do that.”