Craig Levein insists victory for Hearts in Saturday’s Edinburgh derby could be the launchpad for Steven Naismith to land the manager’s job permanently.

However, the former Hearts boss also concedes that another damaging defeat in the race for third could have the opposite effect.

Levein is not surprised the club have turned to B team boss Naismith until the end of the season after Robbie Neilson was sacked on Sunday following a run of five straight defeats.

Naismith was brought to Tynecastle as a player by Levein in 2018 initially on loan from Norwich City before making the move permanently. 

Levein insists the 36-year-old former Rangers, Everton and Scotland striker has the personality to transform the team’s fortunes in the race for third place and reckons a baptism of fire against Hibs is the perfect start.

He said: “For me if you want to make an instant impact you want to play in a derby game rather than any other game. 

“You can make or break your Hearts career almost in one match. 

“What he’ll have to do for this game, and excuse the language, but he’ll have to have them fighting like f***, basically. 

“That’s what the bar will be from the supporters, they’ll need to leave everything on the pitch. 

“Along with that comes cranking it up but bringing a level of keeping the blood pressure under control so there are no stupid mistakes and sendings off. 

“It’s getting the players to an intensity to just below breaking point before it goes too far and keeping it there. 

“If they can do that, I think they have good enough players to beat Hibs. 

“To start with a derby match in my eyes would be a good thing.

“I did think he would be the one to get the opportunity if Robbie did go, it’s not a surprise to me at all.

“He is a strong character, he is a tough guy. As a player he was a tough guy, street wise and I suppose that is part of your character and I think he’ll bring that to the management side as well.”

Hearts were overtaken by Aberdeen in third place on Saturday with the Dons having enjoyed a bounce since Barry Robson replaced Jim Goodwin as boss in January.

Aberdeen have won their last five games to lead Hearts by two points and Levein insists Robson, whom he managed at both Dundee United and Scotland, and Naismith are both cut from the same cloth.

He added: “Barry was thrown in at Aberdeen without any managerial experience and they are kind of similar characters. 

“They both played for me and they are both tough lads, they have a bit of steel about them, they had a bit of the red mist at times. 

"They are strong willed characters, there is no doubt about that. 

“Naisy has got Gordon Forrest and Frankie McAvoy, he is very much his own man and I think he would want to be going into a situation where you have a chance of getting the Hearts job.” 

Levein, meanwhile, admits he was disappointed to see Neilson lose his job as boss. 

Levein managed Neilson at Hearts and was then the director of football when he became the club’s manager for the first time in 2014.

He added: “What he did for the club as a player and manager, I think he deserved a bit more time but you have to understand that the club desperately want to replicate the finances they got this season from Europe.

“They have invested heavily and that comes with the territory, the expectation. 

“I was disappointed that Robbie left, he’s a really good guy and did his best for the club, but that’s football.”