Craig Halkett admits he pushed himself to the extremes in a Hamilton hot box as he raced to get ready for Hampden.
Now he hopes the sweat and toil will ensure he’s rewarded with a warm glow after this weekend’s Scottish Cup Final.
The Hearts defender feared it was season over after injuring his ankle in last month’s semi-final win.
But he has made a remarkable recovery and is now hoping to force his way back into Robbie Neilson’s Jambos line-up for the showdown with Rangers after making a return against the Ibrox men in Saturday’s Premiership curtain-closer.
Halkett said: “It’s been a tough three and a half weeks. There’s been a lot of hard work to finally get back on that pitch. It was good.
“At the time it happened I feared the worst and thought it was season over. But thankfully everything has gone as smoothly as it could. I’m feeling good
“I’ve probably worked harder over the last two or three weeks than I have done all season.
“It’s a massive game and one I couldn’t bear to miss.
“I’ve been going into an extreme environment chamber over at Hamilton.
“You’re in a room with a couple of bikes, treadmills, rowing machines and you can set the temperature, the altitude and the humidity.
“The other week I was on the bike for 40 minutes in 35 degree heat, 3000 altitude. So it’s tough.
“Hopefully it’s going to be hugely beneficial for me. It’s a way of keeping up your fitness when you’re not actually out on the grass.
“I’ve been there five or six times and working really hard to do everything to get me back in the best shape possible. I feel like I am.”
