Derek McInnes has described the build-up to Hearts' Monday night blockbuster against Rangers as a "long week"—but insists a deliberately laidback approach is exactly what his table-topping squad needs.

The mood at Tynecastle is sky-high following last Sunday's dramatic comeback derby win at Easter Road, where Hearts overturned a deficit to beat nine-man Hibs 2-1. That result has only intensified the anticipation for what could be the club's biggest game in decades.

So how has McInnes kept his players focused during the extended wait? By keeping things refreshingly simple.

"I think we've deliberately not spoken too much about the game," revealed the 54-year-old head coach. "It's been a long week, obviously Sunday to Monday. This is our longest period because we go Monday to Saturday, and then we'll have three games in a week, so we're making the most of those extra rest days."

Rather than overloading his squad with tactical talk, McInnes has prioritised recovery and relaxation. "We'll start to make a bit more reference to it today with the players and speak a bit about the game itself. But I think it's getting the balance right. The week's been pretty laidback. We just want to make sure we're strong at the right time, not too early in the week."

With a dressing room packed with international talent, the Hearts boss is leaning on the collective experience of his squad. "We've probably got so many different nationalities in the dressing room, we just try and lean on everything we've got. Some have been in title races before, some haven't. Some have been here a long time and are just enjoying what we're doing."

The message is clear: stay relaxed, trust the process, and be ready to compete when it matters. "I think we're all pretty relaxed day to day and then obviously make sure we're switched on and ready to compete on Monday just as we've done all season. At Tynecastle in particular we have been really strong, so hopefully we can continue that."

McInnes also revealed he could have either Cammy Devlin or Harry Milne back from injury for the visit of third-place Rangers, while Sabah Kerjota's stunning derby impact has given him "food for thought". The Albanian came off the bench at half-time at Easter Road and set up both goals in the 2-1 win, yet has still not started a game this season.

"There's no doubting Sabah's contribution at Easter Road," said McInnes. "It was the perfect time for him to go and showcase what he's got. He's utilised his involvement with us very well."