Robbie Neilson has hailed the Scottish Cup route into Europe as 'huge' with the winners guaranteed group stage football.
Hearts reached the showpiece last season before losing out to Rangers 2-0 at Hampden but finished third in the Scottish Premiership standings that meant they earned that privilege - enjoying eight games in total on the European stage this season.
If the guarantee of a big pay day and playing in European group stage competition wasn't a big enough carrot for his side, the first team they can eliminate from contention via the domestic cup is capital rivals Hibs - with both sides going head to head at Easter Road. But before that meeting they face off in a massive Premiership clash at Tynecastle on January 2. Neilson's full focus is on the run of league fixtures as the domestic game gets back underway before turning focus to that crucial cup tie.
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He knows in order to go all the way in the tournament you need to play the bigger teams along the way whether that be at home, away or at the national stadium.
He said: "It always is a big thing and the way it works out again is the cup winners go into the group stages. So it's huge to get that if you can. It's a pathway to get in.
"Obviously you want to try and finish third to try and guarantee European football. But if you can get in via that then it's massive.
"It's a big game, as it always is. Derbies are massive. We have a big derby at Tynecastle in a couple of weeks and then at Easter Road and it is going to be huge.
"First and foremost we need to take care of these games when we go back. And then hopefully take care of that first derby at Tynecastle and that will set us up for a win there.
"It's like any cup game, you want to win it. If you want to go as far as you can and get to finals you need to win games and play bigger teams as you go along.
"Whether it be Tynecastle, Easter Road or Hampden it doesn't matter you need to go and win the game."
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