Jefferies hails Killie as match of the day

Certainly, first impressions suggest that a game between the bottom club in the Premier League and the one that is in sixth position could never live up to such a tag. However, Jefferies believes that both sides are playing well at present, and the fact that the last three league games between the sides have ended in 2-2 draws, means that goals are likely to be the order of the day.

Such is the tightness of the struggle for points outwith the Old Firm that the Hearts manager believes that, if his side managed to take full advantage of the games they have in hand on the other clubs in the SPL, they could be up challenging soon for third spot in the league.

''Things are tight in this league and Kilmarnock showed that when they went to Motherwell, who were in third place, and won 4-0,'' said Jefferies. ''That would have done their confidence a lot of good and they are playing well just now and will be determined to get off the bottom of the table.''

Certainly, the Hearts manager will have mixed feelings about facing Kilmarnock as, although his club have played well against them in the league, the last time they met was in the CIS Insurance Cup quarter-finals, a match that Kilmarnock won 1-0 at Rugby Park in what was one of Hearts' most disappointing displays of the season.

Since that defeat, Hearts have beaten Celtic at Parkhead in the league and Clyde in the Scottish Cup and have four wins from five games under their belts since the turn of the year.

One of the most intriguing confrontations today would have been between Kilmarnock's on-loan striker Abou Samassi and big centre back Gordan Petric, but the Yugoslav looks likely to miss out after breaking a bone in a foot against Clyde last Saturday. Such is the importance of the former Rangers and Dundee United player to the Hearts cause that his backroom staff were claiming last night that he still had a slight chance of making the game, but it is clear he will have to defy long odds to make it.

On a brighter note for Hearts, goalkeeper Antti Niemi, who has been suffering from a heavy cold all week and who missed training on Thursday and was then sent home yesterday, still believes he will be fit enough to play. Frenchman Gilles Rousset, who is considering signing a year's extension to his current contract, is on stand-by to take over in case the former Rangers goalkeeper does not make it.

Certainly, Samassi will be one of the men Jefferies knows a lot about in the Kilmarnock side as he tried to sign him on loan from West Ham United last season. That deal fell through and Jefferies subsequently went out and bought Gary McSwegan to fill the striking void.

The West Ham striker from the Ivory Coast has since linked up with Bobby Williamson's side and is likely to lead the line today with Frenchman Christophe Cocard. Jefferies said: ''We were interested in bringing Abou here at one stage, but we went out and signed Gary McSwegan and we now have Gary Wales at the club as well. We are still in the market for a striker, but we are looking for a big strong guy who is good in the air to give us other options.

''As well as McSwegan and Wales, we also have Darren Jackson and Stephane Adam playing up front, all of whom can take the ball into feet very well. However, I still believe we need an option to allow us to get into wide positions and get the ball across, so our hunt for a striker still goes on.''

Jefferies was keeping a watching brief on new strikers on the market and even some that he had already been to see. With that in mind, the next logical step was to suggest that he still had an interest in Motherwell's Lee McCulloch, but the Hearts manager made it clear that that proposed transfer had been killed off the minute the Fir Park club said the player was not for sale.

On the positive side for the Tynecastle club, they are set to tie-up Austrian Thomas Flogel on a new two-year deal, with a similar offer also being made to Stevie Fulton.

Meanwhile, Kilmarnock coach Bobby Williamson has urged his troops to extend their mini-revival at the expense of the in-form Tynecastle club.

Despite their 4-0 win at Motherwell on Tuesday, they still find themselves bottom of the league following Aberdeen's 3-1 victory at Dundee 24 hours later. Williamson said: ''The performance and result at Motherwell was very pleasing, but it is important to build on the display if we want to start climbing the table.

''Against Motherwell, we had that bit of luck we have been lacking all season and, although we had been playing well up until the game, the fact we scored four goals was a load of our minds.

''Naturally, we can go into the Hearts game with renewed confidence after the result in midweek. However, the Motherwell match is now in the past and we realise that we have to work just as hard if we want to obtain a good result at Tynecastle.''

Williamson has selection worries for the match, with strikers Paul Wright and Ally McCoist still lacking match fitness, although Tosh McKinlay is likely to be fit. They are likely to have the more experienced Gordon Marshall in goal once again at the expense of Colin Meldrum, a decision Williamson admits was hard to make.

''Both are good goalkeepers and Colin feels aggrieved at being left out against Motherwell,'' said Williamson. ''Gordon is experienced and will do well and has a good presence about him in the penalty box, but it was a difficult decision for me to make.''

BOOKIES' VIEW: Hearts 4-6, Kilmarnock 9-2, draw 13-5.