SCOTLAND hero Davie Weir last night insists former club Hearts can bag the title WITHOUT beating the Old Firm on the way.

The Everton star has been keeping tabs on Jambos and has been impressed by the way George Burley has moulded around his cap pals Craig Gordon, Andy Webster, Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley.

Burley's high-flyers remind him of the Hearts side of 1997-98 that ran Celtic and runners-up Rangers close but fell away at the death to finish third - the Hoops triumph stopping Gers' nine-in-a-row.

But Weir reckons the Tynecastle side can go all the way this time because they have a bigger squad and can flex their financial muscles to strengthen it again in the January transfer window.

Hearts are at Livingston today in a live Setanta clash and a victory will make it six straight wins to keep a healthy points gap between them and the chasing pack.

Weir - who moved to Goodison six seasons ago - said: "Hearts are doing well and I'm delighted for them.

People down south are talking about them and it has to be good for the game that it's not just about the Old Firm this season.

"You need to break the monotony. So it's great to see Kilmarnock, Hibs and Aberdeen have have also had good starts.

"Hearts appear to be particularly strong and have a good squad. When we were going for the title in 1998 we didn't have the depth required to go the distance.

"Guys were playing with injuries and eventually could go on no longer. We lost Colin Cameron with a few games to go and that was a big blow.

"I know Hearts have only played five games and it's early. But the more they win the more confident they will become.

"In 1998 we believed we could go all the way and it became a big thing for us, manager Jim Jefferies and his staff.

"People said we wouldn't do it and that we had to beat the Old Firm to prove ourselves. We didn't agree and made it a quest to shut them up, although we just couldn't sustain it as we ran out of steam.

"We made sure we were ready for the Scottish Cup Final, though, and beat Rangers to win it. So we sort of had the last laugh.

"No doubt people will be saying the same this season they said to us.

"But it might not be necessary to have to beat the Old Firm to win the league. Celtic and Rangers are dropping points to other sides.

"It's just about getting the points. It doesn't matter against whom.

"A lot is already being made of Rangers going to Tynecastle in two weeks' time but Hearts shouldn't be looking that far ahead.

"They should only be thinking about trying to win today. It will be difficult - Livingston are desperate for points."

Weir has also been delighted with Hearts refusal to sell their best players whothey've tied down on long-term contracts. Rangers were told Webster wasn't for sale and Celtic had a £400,000 bid for Hartley turned down.

In the big stopper's day he and Gary Naysmith were sold while Paul Ritchie and Allan Johnston left on Bosmans.

Weir (right) said: "I'm pleased to see the Hearts boys enjoying it.

"I was with them on Scotland duty last week and they were confident about the future.

"It's great they are top of the league and playing regularly for Scotland.

"It proves you don't need to be at the Old Firm for both to happen.

"I hope Hearts can win the title. "There will be many twists and turns along the way and with a bit of luck they my old club cango on to do it and shock Scottish football." Weir knows what it's like to overcome the odds.

For most of last season Everton's bubble was expected to burst but they held on to clinch fourth spot and a crack at the Champions League qualifiers.

Spanish side Villarreal knocked them out but Davie Moyes' side are in the UEFA Cup and will play Dinamo Bucharest in Romania on Thursday night.

Weir said: "From September last year we were in always in the top four. Everyone wrote us off but we hung in.

"We proved everyone wrong. You get into the winning habit and confidence grows.

"Now we must build on it and it feels like we're still moving forward. It will be the same for Hearts this season. Eventually people will expect the Old Firm to pull away but they will have other ideas.

"And if they beat Livingston it will send out another message they plan to be there when the prizes are handed out

Taken from the Sunday Mail