The Hearts defender seems to make a point of that every weekend as he embarks on a dribbling run out of defence or casually rolls his foot over the ball to try and evade the striker bearing down on him. It doesn't always work but that never stops him from trying.
His confidence was illustrated by his reaction to prevailing forecasts that Hearts' season would go out in a whimper, that a younger and less experienced side would struggle to cope with the rigours of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. The Lithuanian simply shrugged and got on with it.
Such a reasoned argument about the weakness of this Tynecastle squad has been made to look somewhat ignorant as the season has progressed. Hearts are just four points off the top and could make a bid to challenge the likes of Motherwell and Dundee United this season should such form continue, with a home match against Kilmarnock next up this afternoon.
Those were clubs that Hearts were not supposed to have been able to get near this year but Zaliukas is confident his side will be occupied with places higher up the table rather than languishing somewhere in the middle. He also went so far as to suggest the league title is not a foregone conclusion, either.
"Every point is important because the league is so tight right now and is probably going to be tight until the end of the season," said the Hearts captain. "Celtic are not playing their strongest side in every game because they are saving players for the Champions League. That gives other teams a boost and everyone wants to take points off them.
"Of course they can [be got at]. They drew with Ross County and with Hibs at home, and lost to St Johnstone. That obviously shows they are a wee bit relaxed and every team who plays Celtic wants to win. I think all teams are ready if Celtic take their foot off the gas. We want to get every point.
"When everyone was saying in the summer that Celtic were going to run away with the league, I never thought that. I always thought it was going to be tough for them and not easy because everyone is fighting for second place, and even first. At no point have we at Hearts thought about Celtic running away with it, we have been focusing on ourselves and we want to get the best position we can."
That focus on the team rather than the individual has helped to smother any concerns he might have over his future. The Hearts captain is out of contract in the summer but has yet to be informed of any new deal being offered. Given Hearts's financial concerns that can hardly be considered unusual behaviour and their defender is in no mood to start trying to draw a new contract from his employers quite yet.
"I have nine months of my contract to go and we have not had any discussions. It has been very quiet. Hearts have not contacted me but I am open to talks," he said. "Now, I am not thinking about the situation, I am focusing on my football, but if the club come to me and want to talk, of course I am ready to talk. It is not a problem. But I am trying not to think about it, I can't let it affect me."
As much as Zaliukas is relaxed amid a club which habitually seems to lose its head, Kenny Shiels believes there is a strong pressure on the Tynecastle club to do well this season. The absence of Rangers from the top flight this season has left the floor open for clubs to audition to be second best, and the Kilmarnock manager is expecting Hearts to put in a strong showing.
"It's the first time we've come up against them now that they're the second biggest club after Celtic," said Shiels. "They've got a lot of pressure to finish in second place. They were the last club to split the Old Firm and I feel there's pressure on Hearts to finish second now. With the armoury and players that they have and the infrastructure and the salaries and the wages – that brings its own pressure."
Today's game will be the first time Shiels has gone up against Hearts counterpart John McGlynn. The Northern Irishman had a somewhat difficult relationship with his predecessor Paulo Sergio, but he has been impressed by his opposite number so far.
"He's given the young boys a chance and, in terms of promoting young players and giving them opportunities, he's right up there," said Shiels. "He's done a great job in that department. He's a good guy. I've met him and he's a good person. He's steeped in the tradition of being in the game."
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