HEARTS were today worrying over the fitness of three key players ahead of Saturday's crunch clash with Kilmarnock at Tynecastle.

Bruno Aguiar, Michal Pospisil and Julien Brellier all picked up knocks during the weekend's resounding 4-0 win over Dunfermline and have failed to play any part in training this week. Of the trio, Aguiar is causing the most concern after he was caught by a late challenge by Greg Ross, the Pars midfielder, who was given a straight red card for his efforts.

Former Benfica player Aguiar was given extensive treatment to his ankle but was forced to hobble off the pitch leaving his team-mates to play out the final few minutes with just ten men. And Hearts assistant coach John McGlynn admitted today that a last-minute decision will be made on his fitness.

"It's not something that's going to clear up overnight unfortunately," said McGlynn.

"I think it will be right to the last minute before we know if he will play against Kilmarnock.

"He hasn't trained at all this week as he's still in a bit of pain and we are just having to wait and look for any improvement day by day.

"He's done very well recently when he's come in and in fact he was great against Dunfermline.

"He's given us some competition in that area of the pitch and that is exactly what you want as you don't just want guys thinking that they can pick up a jersey as that's when complacency creeps in.

"Julien is also getting a bit of aggravation from his back injury and if he was to miss out too, that could cause a bit of a problem with him and Bruno playing in the same area.

"Michal's another one that has still not trained because of a thigh knock and that is causing us a bit of concern.

"We want them all back it's really too early to say if they will come into contention or not."

Meanwhile, German World Cup winner Pierre Littsbarski today all but ruled himself out of the running to become head coach of Hearts, insisting he'd prefer to continue working in Australia.

The 45-year-old is currently manager of Sydney FC whom he guided to Australia's inaugural A-League this year but the club is being forced to make cutbacks and Littbarski would see his wages slashed by 30 per cent if he were to stay.

A decision is expected over the next 48 to 72 hours but Littbarski, who played in three World Cup finals and lifted the trophy in 1990, has let it be known his first choice would be to stay in Sydney.

Whether or not Littbarski, who has coached Bayer Leverkusen and Duisburg in his homeland as well as Yokohama FC in Japan, remains in Australia is said to be "a flip of a coin" and he won't move for another job until that matter is resolved.

• TICKETS for the Jambos' Tennent's Scottish Cup final clash with Gretna are expected to go on sale next week.

The Gorgie club have been told to expect a minimum of 30,800 briefs for the tie on May 13.

Taken from the Scotsman