HEARTS coach Valdas Ivanauskas today warned his players that looking ahead to the mouthwatering end-of-season clash with Rangers could cost them vital points.

The Tynecastle side face a nail-biting trip to Ibrox on the final day of the season - a match that could decide whether they make it into the Champions League qualifiers or not.

The club's supporters are already billing it as one of the biggest games in their history and know that victory at Ibrox could see them clinch a place in Europe's richest competition for the first time.

The stakes could not be higher but Ivanauskas knows his side will probably have to win every game until then to keep themselves in the driving seat.

With four SPL games to go before they make the trip to Govan, the Lithuanian insists his players must focus solely on this weekend's match against Kilmarnock. Anything other than 100 per cent concentration on the task in hand could mean dropping points and that's something Ivanauskas feels his side can ill afford to do at such a vital stage in the season.

Ivanauskas said: "All of the supporters are talking about the Rangers game, of course, but that is not until the end of the season and we cannot allow ourselves to think about that game. The most important game for Hearts right now is the one against Kilmarnock at Tynecastle this weekend.

"We know that there is a long way to go before the end of the season and first of all we need three points against Kilmarnock.

"We know we could possibly have injuries or suspensions in the next three or four games so we need to keep on picking up points.

"Myself and the players are looking ahead only to next week because we know that Jim Jefferies' side will make it very difficult."

Ivanauskas was delighted with Saturday's win over Dunfermline, which helped maintain Hearts' three-point lead over Alex McLeish's side, three first-half goals killing the match off before the break.

However, the Lithuanian places just as much importance on the standard of the performance as well and is keen for his side to continue to play free-flowing football as the season draws to a close.

We have to have the winning mentality. We know we can play football but we want to play very good football and that is also important for the players psychologically."

Meanwhile, Hearts will have to win at Parkhead if they are to lift the SFA Youth Cup.

The venue for the final against Celtic on Wednesday, May 10 was decided by the toss of a coin with Hampden unavailable for the clash.

Taken from the Scotsman