The 2 Hearts stars who are new contract priorities and one more who should be cut adrift - Ryan Stevenson

Hearts have five games to save their season. And for some players the same can be said for their Tynecastle careers.

It starts this Sunday when champions-in-waiting Celtic come calling and with the number of ticket requests I’ve had from Hoops-minded pals then I could almost fill the away end myself. They think they’re going there for a party so this is where Hearts need to stand up and ensure the only celebrating at kicking out time is in the home end. They’re playing for a massive club and have a massive responsibility to rescue third spot.

As I said, there’s more than a few players playing for their future. A handful are in the final weeks of their contracts and right now there’s only two who I reckon definitely merit extensions while another should definitely be heading for the exit. Josh Ginnelly, Michael Smith, Gary Mackay-Steven and Peter Haring will soon be free agents while a big question mark hangs over whether Stephen Humphrys might stick around after his loan deal is up. This might raise eyebrows but Smith, I reckon, has to be a signing priority even just for another year.

Why? Well if Hearts are serious about bringing through youngsters - and it’s imperative they get back to doing that - then they need role models. Experienced players the youngsters look at and think ‘wow, that’s how I need to live to reach those levels’.

Smith is that guy. He might be 34 but he’s still a good player, you know what you’re going to get with him. Season after season he produces, he’s consistent and it’s no coincidence because he lives right, he’s in the gym all the time.

He’s still a better option than Nat Atkinson at right back. He’s more consistent. The best way to sum him up is that even if he’s having an off day then you