Paul Sheerin revealed Kilmarnock returned from the international break keen to clinch a top-six spot as soon as possible.

The Ayrshire outfit are still buoyed by their thrilling 5-2 comeback win against St Mirren at Rugby Park in their last outing which saw Derek McInnes’ side leapfrog the Saints into fourth place in the cinch Premiership.

With three fixtures remaining before the split, Killie are six points ahead of sixth-placed Hibernian and eight points ahead of seventh-placed Dundee who have a game in hand.

Ahead of the game at Hearts on Saturday, Killie’s assistant boss Sheerin said: “The message hasn’t really changed in the last month or so, the aim is to try and cement this place in the top six.

“We still have a bit of work to do, obviously. We’re in the strongest position as it stands and it’s up to ourselves to make the most of the position we are and we will strive to do that.

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“Constant improvement within the group has always been the aim and obviously we’ve managed that up until now and it would be nice just to see the job through and the sooner we do that the better, it saves any tension as the games roll on.

“We know how difficult it will be going away from home, to Tynecastle. Our games over the past couple of seasons have predominantly been tight, nothing between the two teams.

“Since the last time we met, we have only lost three games between us, so consistently, both teams have been good.

“Their form has been excellent so we know how difficult it will be but the aim is obviously to get there (top six) as soon as we can and if that happens on Saturday it would be brilliant for us as a group to achieve that.”