Derek McInnes has a simple message for anyone still doubting his Heart of Midlothian side's ability to handle the pressure of the Scottish Premiership title race: you haven't been watching closely enough.

With just three games remaining in the campaign, Hearts sit three points clear of reigning champions Celtic at the top of the table. Their latest statement win—a commanding performance that all but ended Rangers' title hopes—has put McInnes' men firmly in the driver's seat.

"I think anybody who actually questions the mentality now hasn't been watching us," the head coach said confidently. "It goes without saying, regardless of how this season plays out, you don't, at Hearts, get to 76 points with three games to go if you've not got a good mentality. There's pressures at this club that you need to deal with—an insistence on winning games and an expectation. The players have answered that time and time again."

McInnes points to the numbers as proof: five wins against the Old Firm this season, three victories from four Edinburgh derbies against Hibernian, and an unbeaten home record. For him, the "mentality is never in question."

Inside the dressing room, the mood remains "pretty relaxed," despite the magnitude of what's at stake. A first league title since 1960 is within reach, and should Hearts hold on, they would become the first club outside Rangers or Celtic to claim the Scottish crown since 1985.

But McInnes admits the tension is creeping in. "Normally, days off can be a chance to switch off, but with the greatest will in the world, it's hard to do that at the minute," he said. "Now we're going to have three games in a week that, for all we've done, will decide how it all plays out."

Hearts could clinch the title as early as Wednesday when they host Falkirk—but even if they don't, this team has already proven they thrive under pressure.