Hearts haven't looked back since Kilmarnock won in Gorgie - and neither have Ayrshire outfit

Since then they have taken an impressive 22 points from a possible 24 at Tynecastle and haven't lost an SPL game to non-Old Firm opposition.

Midfielder Bryson, who was one of the key players for Killie that day, believes that result helped spark a revival of fortunes for both sides. "I'm not sure what happened that day," he says. "We went to Tynecastle bottom of the league and I don't think that anyone was expecting too much from us. But everything we did just seemed to go right and everything that we had worked on in training came off for us on the pitch.

"At the time they weren't very happy with the result, but if you look at it now, I think that game kick-started both of our seasons. After that game Hearts went on an absolutely unbelievable run that has allowed them to be up there challenging for second place. As for us, we went from bottom of the table to fourth place so it was probably just what we were needing at the time."

Bryson has been hugely impressed by the way that Hearts have responded over the last couple of months, having seen them ease their way up the SPL table and into contention for second spot in the league this season with both Rangers and Celtic.

He knows that if there is to be any repeat of a Killie victory this weekend, the Rugby Park side will have to be on top of their game on Saturday.

"Hearts have done magnificently this season, they've done so well to get themselves up into third place in the table so far and who knows just how far they can go," he said.

"They've had a lot of good results in the last couple of months and obviously they'll be hoping to keep that going as long as possible.

"It doesn't matter what time of the season you get them, they always give you a hard game and we know they will make it especially difficult for us this weekend." One of the key factors in Hearts' rise up the SPL table has been the form of goalkeeper Marian Kello, who has performed out of his skin on his way to keeping an impressive 12 clean sheets and saving three penalty kicks.

Bryson knows that Hearts' last line of defence will make life difficult for Killie on Saturday, but believes that his side are more than capable of carving out chances in Gorgie.

He's desperate to test the keeper himself, adding: "He is a good goalkeeper and in a good vein of form just now. But we have been creating chances and if we can continue to do that this Saturday, hopefully we can take a few of them and really test him." Bryson, of course, has consistently been linked with a move to Tynecastle himself but insists that he wants to play well this weekend, not to impress Hearts manager Jefferies, but simply to ensure that Killie head back down the M77 with another three points in the bag following their 2-0 victory at home to St Mirren last weekend.

He said: "I think that I have had a fairly good season up until now and I just want that to continue for as long as possible.

"I want to impress in every game I play but playing at Tynecastle always seems to give you an edge because it's a great arena with a great atmosphere.

"The fans are so close to the pitch, I think that's why players enjoy being involved there, when it is full it's almost like playing at one of the Old Firm stadiums.

"I don't think about anything else when I am out on the pitch, the main thing for me is to go out there and play the way that I know I can and hopefully get a result for Kilmarnock."

Manager Mixu Paatelainen has tried out a couple of replacements for the now-departed Sammon - the Irish striker signed for Wigan during the January transfer window - with the latest candidate being young William Gross.

The Frenchman scored the first of Killie's two goals against St Mirren last weekend and the 18-year-old seems to have made a real impression on his team-mates both with his performance in that match and in training sessions.

"William came in last weekend and did really well for us," said Bryson. "He even managed to get himself on the scoresheet, which was good for him and for us.

"He is still just a young boy, but everyone has been really impressed by him in the last few weeks and it would be great if he could continue that.

He's only come to us this season but he's confident and he's been doing well in training, so the gaffer must have thought that it was about time for him to get a chance.

"Hopefully that is a sign that he can come in and fill Conor's boots because he has obviously been a big loss for us.

"But we have managed to pick ourselves up and we have got a lot of good players at the club who are all keen to show that they can do a job now that he has gone."

And Bryson believes that Paatelainen deserves to take the credit for the way that Killie have turned their season around. They have forced their way from the foot of the table into fourth place and Bryson is keen for them to maintain their challenge until the end of the campaign. "Mixu has come in with a lot of fresh ideas, he has brought in the type of players that he wants and he has got us playing a different formation as well.

"I think a lot of credit has to go to him when you look at the position we are in now, compared to last year. To be honest it has been an unbelievable achievement.

"I think our main aim right now is to be in the top six in time for the split in a few weeks' time. We know that it is going to be hard because there are a lot of other teams hoping to do the same - and a lot of them have been doing well in recent games.

"If we manage to do that, then I think that is a good achievement for us, considering where we were this time last year. Finishing in the top six, and then taking it from there, would be an unreal season for us."

Taken from the Scotsman