Livingston boss David Martindale has urged his side to grasp the chance of a third successive top six finish.
The Lions currently sit in fifth place with three games remaining before the split but remarkably just a single point separates the six teams between fourth and 10th in the table.
Martindale’s men travel to the capital on Saturday to face third-placed Hearts but they will do so without top scorer Bruce Anderson after he picked up an ankle injury in training on Monday.
The 23-year-old has bagged 11 league goals this term and sits just two behind the league’s leading scorer, Ross County’s Regan Charles-Cook.
The boss insisted it’s a case of next man up at the weekend and told his players they shouldn’t be ‘happy’ to just settle for their current league position.
Speaking to the Courier, Martindale commented: “We were a wee bit disappointed with the cup defeat there a few weeks ago because we played really well over the 120 minutes then get beat on penalties.
“We kept a clean sheet and arguably had the better chances so we need the same type of performance on Saturday.
“They’ve got a right good squad. They’re third in the league and in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup for a reason so it’s going to be a big, big ask.
“The league is going to change so much every Saturday for these next three games and we’ve got a great chance to get ourselves in the top six.
“That’s got to be our realistic aim and I’ve told the boys that. I’m incredibly proud of the team and what they’ve achieved this year.
“But we’re not going to settle for where we are right now. We want more and there’s three big games to come that will help define our season.”
On the Anderson injury, he added: “Bruce will be out for Saturday. He went over on his ankle in training on Monday and we’ll assess the injury when he gets the scans done.
“He’s the only one ruled out and we’ve got a big squad so it’s an opportunity for someone else but it’s disappointing not to have him available.”
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