Steven Naismith will be hoping for a repeat of his side's performance last time out against Celtic at Tynecastle.
But who should be in his starting XI to make that happen?
Put yourself in Naismith's shoes and pick your line-up here.
Third spot is all but secured for Steven Naismith's side and European football awaits.
Who have you been most impressed by for Hearts this season? Lawrence Shankland is nominated for the PFA Scotland player of the season award, but has he been your stand-out performer in maroon?
Image source, SNSTwenty-six decisions since the start of the Premiership season have been deemed incorrect by the Scottish FA's VAR independent review panel.
The tally, based on incidents requested by the panel or submitted for consideration, is a rise of 10 since February's last meeting of the group.
Not among the incidents included was one where Hibernian claimed the Scottish FA agreed an error had been made.
The governing body later disputed that assertion, made after Hibs were not awarded a penalty after Aberdeen's Nicky Devlin handled in February's 2-2 draw.
The 10 incorrect decisions shared with Premiership clubs on Wednesday were:
Rangers 2-1 Aberdeen (6/02/24): VAR intervention was correct, but final outcome should have been yellow card to Rangers' Dujon Sterling. Referee retained his on-field decision of a red card.
St Mirren 2-0 Dundee (7/02/24): VAR intervention was correct, but final outcome should have been yellow card to St Mirren's James Bolton. Referee retained his on-field decision of a red card.
Ross County 1-1 St Mirren (27/2/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Final outcome should have been penalty awarded against Ross County for handball.
Hearts 1-1 Hibernian (28/2/24): VAR intervention correct, but penalty decision, which led to Hearts' equaliser, should have been overturned - no foul and no penalty should have been awarded.
Kilmarnock 1-2 Rangers (28/2/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Final outcome should have been penalty decision, which led to Kilmarnock opening the scoring, overturned - no handball offense against Rangers.
Hearts 2-0 Celtic (3/3/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty decision should have been overturned - no foul and no penalty should have been awarded to Celtic.
Hearts 2-0 Celtic (3/3/24): On-field decision correct, no penalty to Hearts. Handball should not have been awarded for spot-kick that led to opening goal.
Motherwell 0-1 Aberdeen (16/04/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty to Motherwell should have been awarded for handball.
Hibernian 1-2 St Johnstone (6/4/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty should have been awarded to Hibs for foul by St Johnstone goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov.
St Mirren 1-2 Hearts (6/4/24): VAR intervention correct, but penalty should have been awarded to St Mirren for a foul on Conor McMenamin by Aidan Denholm.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland
It seems like Hearts have had the Premiership's lucrative third spot sewn up for some time, but with four games left they still have work to do.
Saturday could be the day it’s finally in the bag, but it will take another stunning win over current champions Celtic to complete the job.
One of the key elements of success this season has been the confidence emanating from the manager Steven Naismith when going into big games.
They have definitely come up short against Rangers but the same thing certainly cannot be said when taking on the other half of the Old Firm.
Since the 4-1 humbling at Tynecastle back in October, Hearts have twice tucked Celtic away, scoring four goals in the process and keeping two clean sheets at the back. Not easy to do against the league's top-scoring team this campaign.
This period between now and the end of the season can at times be looked at by some as a ‘winding down’ stage of the campaign but supporters will have none of that.
And with potential new contracts up for grabs, and places at this summer's Euros to play for, the Hearts players will be kept on their toes; nothing other than 100% will suffice until the final whistle on the final day.
Queens Park Rangers are in talks over a deal for Heart of Midlothian right-back Rocco Friel, but the Edinburgh club want to retain the 17-year-old right-back who is out of contract at the end of the season and would attract training and development compensation if he moves on. (Daily Record), external
Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Greg Playfair
Fan writer
We’ve reached a weird juncture of the league campaign where our season is effectively over despite having four games left to play.
Barring the unlikeliest run of results for both Kilmarnock and ourselves, we are one point away from mathematically confirming third place following Saturday's 0-0 draw at Rugby Park.
One man that deserves all the praise for his campaign is Lawrence Shankland, and it was no surprise to see him pick up both the fans’ and players’ player of the year awards on Sunday.
After scoring 28 goals for us this season, his impact on the team has been the difference on numerous occasions.
It was also no surprise to see him named on the PFA shortlist this week, but it would be a travesty if he wasn’t named the winner.
I can’t think of many players who have gone on such a journey in a league campaign and I just believe he’s had the most impressive season in comparison to the other three players on the shortlist.
He’s not only had to win over some early season doubters over his form and physical conditioning, but he’s changed the perception of many to the point most Scotland fans are wanting him to spearhead the attack in Germany.
There has been chat this week about him revisiting talks over a new contract with the club in the summer, but I think we need to see how the next couple of months pan out first. If he does have a strong end to the season and good performances in the Euros, then there’s little chance of him sticking around next season.
Still, we have four league games to navigate first before we can plan our summers and first up is Celtic away. Park all Premiership title chat to one side, we will travel through to Glasgow with a desire to win and take nine points from a possible 12 against Celtic, which will breed massive confidence for next season’s league campaign.
There’s no doubt it’s a tough ask given Celtic are usually formidable at this time of year with honours to play for, but don’t be surprised if Hearts, and Shankland in particular, have other ideas.
Greg Playfair can be found on the Oor Wee Chat Podcast., external
Scotland and Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland says he will discuss his future with the Tynecastle club this summer as he enters the final year of his contract.
Liam Robertson, the son of Heart of Midlothian legend John, made a surprise appearance off the bench for Edinburgh City at the weekend as a striker despite being the club's goalkeeping coach. (Scottish Sun)
Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip.
Sean McGill
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSOnly once since the 1990/91 season has a player plying their trade for a team other than Celtic or Rangers won the PFA Scotland player of the year award.
Lawrence Shankland will be hoping to join Michael Higdon on the small list of non-Old Firm players to claim the prize in recent times as he looks to match the striker's exploits for Motherwell in 2012/13.
And given the Hearts striker is the Premiership's top scorer, he may well have a decent chance.
His 21 league goals are only part of the story though - this has been a huge season for Shankland as a leader at Tynecastle.
With Craig Gordon absent for much of the campaign, the 28-year-old has taken on the captain's armband with assurance, spearheading Hearts' likely charge back to third place and group stage European football.
His technical ability and link-up play are still underrated outwith Gorgie, though the Hearts fans who watch him week in, week out know just how good a footballer Shankland is.
Even when noise of a potential departure wouldn't go away in January, the frontman did what he does best - score goals. What other people said didn't seem to affect him.
And while the summer window is likely to prompt similar murmurs, for now, the Hearts support have a player they can idolise, adore, and legitimately call one of the best talents in the division.
Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, BBC It was a busy afternoon for Cammy Devlin in the midfield at Rugby Park on Saturday.
The Australian's trademark, boundless energy was on full display as he ran the show in Ayrshire.
He could well have made it two goals in two league games had it not been for the crossbar, too.
Watch Sportscene analysis of Hearts' goalless draw against Kilmarnock
Watch all the action from Rugby Park as Kilmarnock and Hearts played out a goalless draw. (Available to UK users only).
We asked for your thoughts on Hearts' goalless draw away to Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Here's what some of you said:
Mike: Probably one of the best performances of the season. The only thing missing was the goals. I felt that Hearts controlled the majority of the game and defended well against a dangerous Kilmarnock team, who were not at their best. Cammy Devlin man of the match, with honourable mentions for the three central defenders and Beni Baningime.
Chris: Was nervous after the semi-final but I needn’t have been, we controlled the game and were unlucky not to leave with three points. Lawrence Shankland again struggled, hoping his form has an upturn so we can watch him at the Euros!
Keith: Decent performance and another clean sheet but we need to start taking the chances our good play is creating.
Image source, SNSZander Clark and Craig Gordon are both hoping to be part of Scotland's squad at Euro 2024
Hearts boss Steven Naismith reckons his side can only benefit from Zander Clark and Craig Gordon vying for the number one jersey as they look to secure their place in Scotland’s Euro 2024 squad.
Naismith has rotated the pair in recent weeks and Clark got the nod at Rugby Park on Saturday, producing a big save in the dying embers of the goalless draw with Kilmarnock.
"That's the joy of having two really good goalies," Naismith said.
"I've got the confidence that even though Zander has missed the last two, that he comes in and will be as solid as he's been all season.
"The two of them are doing all they can to make the Euros squad - it's as simple as that.
"I think they have done all they can in the games they've played this season. We'll see how the coming weeks go, but it might be an opportunity to give them both game time."
Image source, SNSKilmarnock are undefeated in their last six games in the Scottish Premiership, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 6 December 2023 to 30 December 2023.
Kilmarnock have kept a clean sheet in their last three games in the Scottish Premiership - a run of 387 minutes.
Their last longer run of games without conceding in the competition was four matches from 10 November 2018 to 5 December 2018.
Hearts are undefeated in their last four games in the Scottish Premiership.
Their last longer unbeaten streak was from 16 December 2023 to 17 February 2024, a run of 10 games.
Hearts have kept a clean sheet in 15 of their 34 games, only Rangers (18) have done this more often in the Scottish Premiership this season. Kilmarnock's haul of 13 is bettered only by Hearts and Rangers.
Steven Naismith says his Hearts team are aiming to get as many points as they can from their remaining Premiership fixtures.
Hearts fans, were you at Rugby Park or following the match from home?
Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.
Steven Naismith tells BBC Scotland: "I thought we were really good. The only thing we were missing was some goals. We created good chances. Our energy, build-up play and control of the game was good.
"We had to defend at times, we defended really well, our control of the game was really good and we could've been two or three up at half-time if not for the woodwork and good defending.
"On the whole, what it does show you about our group is that we are driven. On the back of the disappointment of the semi-final, to perform like we did shows we are determined and want to be successful.
"We want to get as many points as we can. That is our challenge until the summer.
"(Beni Baningime) was feeling unwell. I’m not concerned by it. He was alright by half-time. I don’t expect him to be missing next week."
Image source, SNSKheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park
When both sets of supporters applaud their side off after a goalless draw, they've either witnessed a cracking game of football despite the dearth of goals or, as is the case here, they've seen enough progress throughout the term that they're happy to tick the 'good season' box.
That certainly applies to both these sides, who've confirmed their status as third and fourth best in the league as things stand right now, and it may well be the case come the end of the season.
Hearts certainly won't be caught for third, and will feel hard done to that they didn't claim all three points after a first half showing in which they twice hit the Kilmarnock bar.
After the break, Kilmarnock were better, ditching the first half 4-4-2 by sacrificing defender Robbie Deas and bringing on Brad Lyons to beef up the midfield.
But for a fine late save from Zander Clark to deny Marley Watkins, Killie could have been leaving with all three points.
They'll have to settle for one and can look forward to big games against Celtic and Rangers as they look to get their passports out for some European football next season.
Cammy Devlin put in a solid shift in midfield and was unlucky not to open the scoring with a near-perfect curling effort that bounced back out off the bar.
Image source, SNSHearts boss Steven Naismith opts to make three changes following last weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers at Hampden Park.
There's rotation in goal as Zander Clark comes back into the starting XI to replace veteran 'keeper Craig Gordon.
A back three is employed, with wing-backs Dexter Lembikisa and Alex Cochrane replacing Alan Forrest and Nathaniel Atkinson.
Forrest drops to the bench, whilst Nathaniel Atkinson misses out entirely.
Follow our live coverage here.
Image source, SNSPremiership top scorer Lawrence Shankland has failed to score versus Kilmarnock this season in four attempts
Image source, BBC SportKilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Wright, Findlay, Deas, Armstrong, Donnelly, Polworth, Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell.
Substitutes: O'Hara, Ndaba, McKenzie, Lyons, Watson, Murray, Cameron, Mackay-Steven, Van Veen.
Heart of Midlothian: Clark, Kingsley, Kent, Rowles, Lembikisa, Baningime, Devlin, Grant, Cochrane, Vargas, Shankland.
Substitutes: Gordon, Oda, Forrest, McKay, Sibbick, Denholm, Tait, Fraser, Tagawa.
Image source, BBC Sport
