The Premiership season has only just begun but there is no time like the present to kick-off the campaign's derby days.
Sunday will see Hearts travel to Easter Road to take on city rivals Hibs. And Jambos boss Robbie Neilson insists his side used the upcoming clash as a method of motivation as they prepared for battle during the summer. The Tynecastle outfit started their season by taking all three points from visitors Ross County on Saturday and will be looking for more of the same on the road this coming Sunday.
It is not a long trip across the capital to Leith but it is an important one, with Neilson readying his squad for an electric atmosphere. And the tough task has provided the Gorgie side with a push in the right direction as they look to come back even bigger and better this time out after securing third place last season.
Speaking to Hearts TV ahead of Sunday's derby, the Jambos boss said: "It's a fixture you look out for as soon as they come out to be honest with you and thankfully it has come early. We've been able to use it for the whole pre-season as a motivation to make sure the players are ready for the start of the season.
"One of the beauties of the Edinburgh derby is we still have our allocations. We'll take a full end and the place will be rocking. It's always a great atmosphere. There's always a lot of intensity and it is one that we always look forward to."
Hearts haven't lost an Edinburgh derby since December 2019, with Neilson already securing three wins and two draws during his second spell in charge. And he will be looking for more of the same to make it a perfect six point start to the 2022/23 campaign.
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