Enforced pause offers timely opportunity for Hearts

When Falkirk knocked Hearts out of the Scottish Cup on penalties in mid-January, there were a few moans and groans from the stands that another opportunity for silverware had gone.

But ask those same supporters now whether they would have traded a cup run for their current league position and you won't find many takers.

Who would have believed that, with just nine games left, Hearts would be sitting so commandingly in the table? Beyond Tynecastle Park, whispers are growing louder that history may yet be rewritten.

The four fixtures before the split will be pivotal, yet Derek McInnes and his players can approach them with real confidence.

Across eight league meetings this season with Kilmarnock, Dundee, Livingston and Motherwell, Hearts remain unbeaten - five wins and three draws underlining their consistency.

Indeed, Motherwell are the only side Hearts have yet to defeat this season, a quirk that adds extra intrigue to the run-in.

The enforced pause, brought about by that cup exit to Falkirk, may yet prove a blessing in disguise. Several players have been nursing bumps and bruises and this break offers a timely chance to rest and reset before Hearts head to Killie a week on Saturday.

And with both Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland reportedly making strong progress in their recoveries, supporters can afford to enjoy the breather.

What lies ahead could be a run-in to remember.