Hearts can win the Premiership - according to Tynecastle recruitment chief Joe Savage.
Savage believes Robbie Neilson 's men should be striving for the league title - despite Celtic and Rangers' domestic duopoly.
It's been over 36 years since someone outside of the Old Firm won the Scottish top flight - Aberdeen in 1985 - as the game has changed drastically on and off the pitch.
However, Savage believes the unbeaten Jambos can, one day if not this season, upset the odds and lift the crown for themselves to break the Glasgow stranglehold.
The Gorgie side currently sit third in the standings behind the Old Firm - frustrated with draws in their last two games.
Despite this, Savage reckons they can still compete at the top and is backing them to make a good go of it with the Gers and the Hoops distracted by European competition.
He told the Athletic : "My mindset is ‘How can we win this league?’ I have no hesitation in saying it.
"Some people might think I’m deluded but that’s our selling point.
“People always refer to budgets, transfer fees, salaries, but I’ve never believed in that.
"It goes back to being a kid and my belief in building teams. It’s about good recruitment and good coaches. We’ve got that. Robbie is a born winner.
"He understands what it takes to win games. We’re hell-bent on being the best, and that means going through to Glasgow and trying to beat them.
“I know it’s going to be difficult and Rangers and Celtic may end up too strong for us, but why not strive for it? My absolute ambition is to work for a club who win the Champions League. It might take me 30 years but that’s the level you’re striving for.
“I’d like to hope our lads are saying, ‘We’ve got a chance’. Rangers and Celtic are in the Europa League and we’re not. We can only lose the league when we lose the league.
"We’re still in it until it’s mathematically impossible. If not (this season), then we’ll try to build a team that can win it next year.”
