Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists there will be no repeat of the Dons easing off in the post-split fixtures this season.
The Reds had second place sewn up last season and it showed in the post-split matches as McInnes’ side took just four points from their five post-split games last season but still managed to finish 10 points clear of third-placed Caley Thistle.
However, with the Dons in pursuit of leaders Celtic at the top of the Premiership and with Hearts also hoping to reel in his side and steal second place McInnes knows there can be no relaxing run-in for his players this term.
He said: “This time last season we were well ahead of the team below us in third spot.
“That was perhaps part of the reason why we eased off a bit in the last five games after the split.
“We started to look after boys by resting players due to an early start for the European games this season. But this time we want to go all the way and will try to impose ourselves on games until the very end.
“A win would make it very difficult for Hearts to catch us but we’re not really thinking about that. We want to win the game as there are 18 points left and we want to try to get as many of them as possible and see where it takes us.
“We want to stay in the fight with Celtic but to do that it will mean winning games which would get us further away from Hearts.”
Hearts’ preparations for the game have been hit by an outbreak of gastroenteritis which has swept through the club and led to last night’s league game at Inverness being postponed.
McInnes expects Friday’s game at Tynecastle to go ahead.
He said: “Hearts said confidently on Monday they expected the game to go ahead, so it won’t affect our preparations.
“We are just looking forward to the game as there is a lot riding on it. It will be a packed Tynecastle and it is a pity we couldn’t get more of our supporters into the stadium.
“It has all the makings of a good game that we are all looking forward to.”