Craig Levein is demanding his Hearts players show no let-up ahead of their most important game of the season.
Levein’s side take on holders Celtic in the William Hill Scottish Cup Final on May 25 as the Jambos bid to rescue a season that had promised so much.
Hearts face three more games in the league before the Hampden showdown – Kilmarnock at home this Saturday, Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Friday, May 10 before the final clash of the Premiership campaign – Celtic in Glasgow.
And Levein has urged his players to go for the jugular before facing Neil Lennon’s side at the national stadium.
The Tynecastle boss said: “It’s a message for everybody that we’ve got an awful lot still to play for this season.
"We can’t afford to take our foot off the gas. I would hope we’d get an extra spark.
“That’s why I was annoyed with the performance against Rangers the other week when we lost 3-1. It didn’t look like we were playing for places in a cup final, or even to be in the team for the derby the next week.
“It’s important we keep our foot to the floor so that nobody lets up at all until the season is actually finished.”
Peter Haring is unlikely to be risked at Tynecastle on Saturday despite an injection improving a groin injury.
Levein added: "It's much better but I don't want to push him this week and the thing flares up again and then being a doubt about next week's match."
