It's rather surprising, because we have had a lot of good performances,

That is an aspect that players looking in from the outside at the Old Firm don't realise is difficult to live with. If we continue to get results these expectancy levels will continue to grow. That will be new to a lot of us and something we will have to learn to handle.

It's the first time in six or seven years that there's been this sense of optimism and that's been reflected in the season ticket sales.

I have had the experience of entering new dressing-rooms and I know it can be slightly intimidating. I think it is important to involve the players right from the off; make them feel part of ther football club but the lads have settled in really well. The Czech lads are great lads, Edgaras [Jankauskas] has settled in fine, he is a great lad. There is a good feeling among the dressing room but there always is. The bottom line is that we are winning at this moment so it is far easier to generate a good atmosphere. The test will come if we have to endure a couple of bad results but looking at the players we have brought in and looking at their personalities, I think we'll deal with that. That will be the real test.

[To match this sequence on Saturday, Hearts now require to prove themselves at home to Rangers, who are eight points adrift of them. The encounter offers the Tynecastle men an opportunity to prove beyond all doubt that they are the team the Old Firm have to beat, as opposed to the other way around. Eminently achievable, the manner in which they got the job done against Inverness without producing football to purr over made the win reminiscent of the sort the Glasgow clubs have become past masters at knocking out on their way to title successes.] If we had lost there would have been pressure on us to get a result next week, ... But now the pressure is on Rangers.

There is a fantastic spirit in the camp and we have no fear about Saturday,