Hearts are bigger, better and have more quality now they MUST beat Hibs - Ryan Stevenson

Hearts are now bigger than Sunday’s Edinburgh derby.

They are on a different level from Hibs. And, if they want to be achieving their goals this season, it’s a simple fact they need to be beating teams who finished in the bottom six last term. What I have said there might sound stupid in terms of the supporters because it’s a huge occasion in the city and the game gives so much to those fans.

The difference between winning and losing can lead to weeks of joy or pain in the workplace or pub. Listen, I know what the derby is all about. I know what it means.

But when you strip away all the other stuff and break it right down to a 90-minute game between two sets of players, Hearts just need to be winning. If the Jambos want to finish third again, get into Europe once more and eat into the gap between them and the Old Firm, the players should be looking at this in the manner you would look at a normal game.

They should treat it like Ross County last weekend or a clash with Motherwell. Both of those clubs finished above Hibs last season in the final table.

If Hearts had a game against any side that finished in the bottom half last year, it would be seen as a team they have to beat. That’s what Hibs are.

It’s different when it is Rangers against Celtic. They are always first and second in the table and, for the most part, they are two equal teams.

I look right now and I don’t see Hearts and Hibs as being equal. Nowhere near it.

Hearts are a better team. A much better team. And they are adding to it with more new players possibly arriving this week.

Of course, embrace the occasion. It’s a great day out for the fans, it’s a big one, but the level Hearts are at now, it’s about three points.

If they don’t get them, they are