Hearts were held to a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle Park on Wednesday night after Kilmarnock snatched a late equaliser.
Lawrence Shankland's sublime strike early in the second half looked enough to separate the sides on a night where a robust Kilmarnock team did well to limit chances.
Despite leading for much of the game, Bruce Anderson was able to tap home at the death to secure a point.
Victory sees Hearts maintain a two point lead over second placed Celtic heading into Sunday's top of the table clash in the east end of Glasgow.
Derek McInnes made several changes to the side that was held to a 0-0 draw at Fir Park last Saturday; with Landry Kabore, Alan Forrest, Christian Borchgrevink, and Frankie Kent all returning to the fold.
Despite enjoying the lion's share of possession in the opening quarter, it would take until 16 minutes for Hearts' first clearcut chance of the night; Kabore doing well to ease the ball into the path of Lawrence Shankland after drawing Killie goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi off his line.
The Scotland international looked to lift the ball high on the curl, but the stopper recovered his positioning to get back and lift a glove up to keep the ball from rippling the back of the net.
Kilmarnock, to their credit, were stuffy and compact in their shape - limiting Hearts' chances throughout the half despite from inventive forward play from the men in maroon as they searched for an opener.
Just before the half-hour mark, Killie fashioned a chance of their own, skipper Brad Lyons capitalising on some slackness at the back to let rip with a shot from distance that was high and wide over Alex Schwolow's crossbar.
The Jambos kept at it after 35 minutes, but still had nothing to show for it, with Harry Milne seeing his low slice cannon away from target after a well timed block from a blue and white shirt.
On the counter, Killie hit back, and Tyreece John-Jules saw his low drive drag wide of goal a minute later in only the second chance of the evening for Kilmarnock.
The Ayrshire side almost had an opener after 39 minutes when an incisive through-ball ripped open the Hearts line, allowing James Brown to get a shot off from close range - a fine stop from Schwolow maintaining parity heading into the break.
HT: Heart of Midlothian 0-0 Kilmarnock
After a fairly drab start, the second half quickly exploded into life as Hearts secured the opener in spectacular fashion after 49 minutes.
Tomas Magnusson led the charge forward, sliding a low ball towards goal that was expertly dummied by Landry Kabore into an oncoming Lawrence Shankland who curled the ball into the top corner at the first time of asking.
The Jambos were in the ascendancy, and almost had a second after 58 minutes via a superb Harry Milne corner. Tomas Magnusson rose to meet it, but his well placed header crashed off the woodwork.
Killie switched formations after 72 minutes in an attempt to stifle Hearts further, but more nifty footwork from Lawrence Shankland saw him sent a low strike off from range, with his effort whizzing just past the post.
Blair Spittal had a great chance to add Hearts' second after 78 minutes courtesy of a mazy run into the box from Claudio Braga. Culminating in easing the ball into his path just at the edge of the box, his goalbound hit was diverted behind by Dom Thompson's block.
With two minutes to go, Alex Schwolow made a superb save onto the post after Killie threatened from several flick-ons following a long throw into the Hearts box.
There was to be heartache for the Jambos at the death, however, with Kilmarnock grabbing a late equaliser to secure a point.
Liam Polworth's effort from distance was saved by Schwolow, but spilled back into play, allowing Bruce Anderson to tap home from close range.
After a lengthy VAR check for suspicion of offside against Anderson, the goal stood, and Hearts had to settle for a point.
Hearts: Schwolow, Kent, Shankland, Kabore (Braga 66'), Borchgrevink (McEntee 80'), Devlin, Forrest (Spittal 66'), Milne, Findlay, Magnusson, Kyziridis
Subs: Gordon, Kingsley, Halkett, McCart, Kabangu, Braga, Spittal, Kerjota, McEntee
Kilmarnock: Oluwayemi, Thompson, Mayo, Deas, Lyons (Polworth 80'), Kiltie, Brown, Lowery (Anderson 70'), Thomson (Watson 62'), John-Jules (Dackers 70'), Brown
Subs: Beach, Williams, Dackers, Watson, Stanger, Tiffoney, Anderson, Brannan, Polworth
Attendance: 18,508
