Robbie Neilson has explained his relationship with Lee Johnson as the duo get set to go head-to-head in the capital this season.
Hearts had a stunning return to the Scottish Premiership last season finishing third in the table behind Celtic and Rangers and also reaching the Scottish Cup Final. They were rewarded with a place in the Europa League play-off round for this coming season with the guarantee of at minimum a spot in the Europa Conference League group stages.
Hibs suffered a poor campaign by their own standards finishing in the bottom half of the Premiership with former Sunderland boss Johnson replacing Shaun Maloney with his summer rebuild at Easter Road well underway. The pair will lock horns on the second game of the Premiership season with European games also heading for Tynecastle and while it is an exciting prospect, the main focus is pre-season and the opener with Ross County.
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Speaking from his presser at Hearts' Spanish training camp, Neilson explained: "Wee Johnno, I know him very well, his No 2 Jamie McAllister as well. I played with him for a number of years.
"I've kept in touch with Lee a bit since our playing days, going back and forward.
"I've known him since he came up here in 2006, and we've always kind of kept in contact. We've had conversations here and there but when the derby comes and everyone is wanting to win that's different.
"It's nice to see Lee back in management, but hopefully he's not too successful!"
He added: "You want to play in these big games, but our focus has got to be on County at Tynecastle to make sure we win that.
"We've got European games after that which need to be put to bed.
"The derby, yes, you're always thinking about it when it comes. But the first one's got to be County and to be ready for that."
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