ROBBIE NEILSON is adamant there will be no sense of trepidation about facing Celtic after warming up for the Scottish Cup final with a 6-1 demolition of abject Queen of the South. 

Neilson had demanded focus and professionalism against Queens despite the looming prospect of next Sunday’s showdown at Hampden and he was rewarded with an almost perfect afternoon.

Steven Naismith rolled back the years with a screamer, Liam Boyce notched a double, Jamie Walker edged closer to 50 goals for the club and Elliot Frear got off the mark for the Jambos. 

Perhaps most satisfying for Neilson was the sight of Josh Ginnelly, climbing off the bench after six weeks out with a thigh injury, completing the scoring with a sensational thunderbolt from distance. 

The sole point of frustration for the hosts - now four points clear at the summit of the table - came courtesy of failing to claim a clean sheet, albeit Ayo Obileye’s consolation will be a minor footnote to this comprehensive triumph. 

Allied with the Hoops’ recent travails, it is little wonder that Neilson is taking his Championship outfit west brimming with confidence that they can return with the trophy. 

“When you play with Hearts you can’t be overawed by cup finals,” said Neilson. “You should be used to playing in theses situations - and winning them. 

“When you look at our back-line and Craig Gordon, you have international players throughout. The only one who isn’t an international is Craig Halkett and he’s been one of our best players this season. 

“In midfield, you have [Jamie] Walker and Naisy [Steven Naismith], then up to [Liam] Boyce up front. 

“These are all good players who have operated at a high level, so there is no trepidation for us about going to Hampden and facing Celtic. We look forward to it.” 

Hearts only took 20 minutes to breach Queens’ massed defensive ranks, with Naismith picking up the ball 25 yards from goal and unleashing a ferocious drive beyond the helpless Jack Leighfield. 

Olly Lee somehow contrived to pass up another golden opportunity, lashing wildly off target from all of three yards after reacting swiftest to Leighfield’s fine save from Boyce. 

But Hearts did double their advantage on the cusp of half-time when Boyce rose highest to head home a pion-point cross from Lee, evidently proving a more potent creator than finisher. 

Any hopes of an unlikely Queens comeback were dashed within 60 seconds of the restart when Boyce claimed his second of the afternoon, sliding in at the back-post to convert a White cross-cum-shot. 

Queens did trouble the score-sheet when Obileye escaped some lax marking to clinically convert a McCabe free-kick. 

However, the dominant Jambos soon hit back courtesy of Walker, who fizzed a wonderful effort beyond the reach of Leighfield from the edge of the box. That’s 48 goals in a Hearts jersey for the playmaker as he races towards a half-century. 

The capital club made it 5-1 when Boyce turned provider to tee up Frear for his maiden strike in maroon before Ginnelly’s late firecracker lathered the icing on the cake. 

“It’s a tough task to pick a team for Sunday - that’s the way it should be,” he added. “We can’t just rely on strikers or one player to get the goals. 

“We have good options and, even picking the bench against Queens, Jordan Roberts didn’t even make the bench. So, we’ll decide how we want to play next week and decide who fits into that.” 

Defeated boss Allan Johnston added: “I'm sure Hearts will go on to win this league and games like this aren't going to define our season.”