Hearts full-back Michael Smith has provided a fascinating insight into their much talked-about rope and goggles training drill.
Daniel Stendel's slightly more unusual methods hit the headlines last week as they prepared for the Scottish Cup quarter-final with Rangers.
However Smith says they ultimately worked, and the head coach can take credit for their positive results against Steven Gerrard's side and against Hibs in midweek.
The idea was that the ski shades would help defenders work on their peripheral vision, and the rope would work to tie the backline together and encourage them to work as a tight unit.
Smith said: "I didn't wear the goggles, my eyesight is bad enough without them.
"But I've seen these kind of things done plenty of times before. If you're conceding plenty of goals you want to get the shape of the back four right and the distances between you.
"It was only a little short exercise with the ropes to get you used to the movements and everyone moving together.
"I've seen it happen before. Plenty of clubs do it and I've spoken to plenty of players, it's nothing.
"Have I seen the goggles used before? Only skiing. Nah, the gaffer has got different ways of doing things.
"It was a great laugh at the time. It was the centre-halves who were wearing them and it was so funny because Clevid Dikamona missed the ball at one point.
"But it's worked. We've done really well the last two games so if (the manager) wants to take the credit he can.
"We're together as a team and we fight for each other, even more so the last couple of weeks. But little things like this can definitely help."
