Frustrated Craig Halkett has warned his Hearts team-mates their jobs are on the line as he ordered improved performances.
The former Livingston defender has been disappointed with recent showings that has seen his side drop points in each of their last three games.
They still sit clear at the top of the Championship but Halkett knows the squad will be strengthened, even if they complete the job and get straight back up.
Robbie Neilson has already spoken about beginning transfer plans for the summer at Tynecastle and Halkett believes that should fire everyone up even more for the rest of the season.
He said: “Everyone knows that we are playing for our futures here. The manager has brought people in this season to do a job and get the team back into the Premiership.
“He has said before that he wants to strengthen the squad again, so everyone should feel we are playing for our future and prove that they are good enough to be here next season.
“We have to win the league and that’s the first incentive, but another is to make sure you keep performing to put yourself in the manager’s plans for next season too.
“Individually we all know what the job is and that’s to win this league and get the club back to where it belongs in the Premiership. It is a shorter season this year, we only have nine games left.
“We know we have to win games to get over the line. I don’t think there is more pressure on us or anything like that, we just know ourselves we have to do better.
“We haven’t won enough games of late and we need to change that and prove to ourselves that we can do that.”
