Derek McInnes believes the Jambos’ results and performances against Rangers this season can give them added belief ahead of Sunday’s trip to Glasgow.
The men in maroon head to Govan for a Sunday evening kick-off in front of the Sky Sports cameras and while acknowledging the challenges Rangers will pose, McInnes admits the group will take confidence from their Ibrox win in September.
“I think it's a good reference for us,” he told the media at the pre-match press conference.
“It was well documented to me before the game when we went there earlier in the season how poor our record was as a club at Ibrox. But I think it was good for us in the sense that Rangers are a good side. They're up there, expected to be up there.
“I thought they recruited really well in January. I think they probably recruited in the key positions that they were looking for and been well supported in that, a lot of money spent. So, we're well aware it's a difficult game at any time when you play a team like Rangers.
“But I do think, from our point of view, that going there and having won previously and putting on a good performance shows what can be done. Obviously, we beat Rangers at Tynecastle as well.
“I think it's good for me in terms of the message. Sometimes as a manager, you've got to be a wee bit of a salesman and try to convince people that you can win games. And if we do our jobs well, we'll give ourselves a chance. But sometimes when you've got that backup of results, that helps with that whole narrative.”
Craig Halkett is available after serving his suspension in the victory over Hibernian, but McInnes confirmed Stephen Kingsley has suffered a fresh setback in his recovery.
“Craig's back. Just as we were, really. A wee bit of disappointing news. We had a wee issue with Stephen Kingsley. He picked up a calf injury.
“So, he's probably going to be out for another five weeks or so. Which is disappointing. But other than that, Cammy, Lawrence, Calum Nieuwenhof and young Finlay Pollock are still working away.
“If you speak to Cammy, he'll say he is close. If you speak to the physios, it's a wee bit different. But I think he's probably scheduled to be touch and go for the Aberdeen game. Which is at the end of the month.
“We've obviously got two weeks after that. And that would probably be more likely that he'd be fit for the Kilmarnock game.
“I think it is when we come back out of that little spell. But he's not ruled out for the Aberdeen game at the end of the month.
“For Lawrence, he would probably be the last week in March. So, we've only got two league games in March. So, he would only miss maybe two games in March and then potentially back after that.”
You can watch Derek’s press conference in full on Hearts TV.
