THE ambition for Hearts is to prove that they can compete with the Old Firm week in, week out and challenge the big two rather than just be the third force in the Premiership.
But Lawrence Shankland knows the Jambos must prove themselves over the course of 90 minutes first and foremost after losing a one-sided affair to Rangers on Wednesday night.
An Alfredo Morelos brace and Malik Tillman effort were ultimately what separated the sides at Tynecastle but the margin of victory could have been far greater for the visitors.
The gap between the teams in the table now stands at 19 points. Hearts will be best of the rest but they want to look up rather than peer over their shoulder.
"Of course yes," Shankland said when asked if Hearts need to take the final step against the Old Firm. "That’s why they are the so-called big two in the league.
"They get that name because they do what they do year in an year out. If we want to be up there with them then these are the games that we need to go and try to win, especially at home.
"So it was disappointing, but I don’t think we gave ourselves a chance to win the game.
"The belief is there. Going into the game I said we were looking forward to it and confident. It very quickly turned when we clearly weren’t playing at our best.
"I think if you are going to have any chance against the Old Firm you need to be at your best. If you’re not then nine times out of ten you see what happens."
This fixture seemed like the chance that Hearts had been waiting for to end a rotten record against Rangers and Robbie Neilson's side were ten games unbeaten heading into the Premiership clash.
A chorus of boos at the break told its own story, though. Hearts were second best throughout and the increased expectations from the stands were not met on the park.
"Listen the fans are entitled," Shankland said. "Football is a fickle game, everybody knows that.
"We’ve been in it long enough to know that, but these supporters come here week in and week out and pay their money wanting to be entertained. I’ve no gripes with that at all.
"Yes we’ve been on a good run and some people might see it as harsh if we’re getting the boos, but as players we understand that when it’s not going well that’s part of the job.
"We accept that and we are big enough boys to see that’s what happens at a big club.
"They have seen enough in the team watching us every week to know that we can compete.
"We know that ourselves and it’s a disappointing night but that’s all it is and all it need to be. We need to get it to the back of our minds now, it’s done."
It was to prove a tough learning curve across the park for Hearts. In the case of Garang Kuol, it was a night that he may wish to forget.
The on-loan Newcastle United couldn't assert himself against a Rangers side that were at their best under Michael Beale and the experience of those in blue showed.
Shankland was asked if Kuol would learn more from the defeat to Rangers than he would with as comfortable win and said: "I know what I’d rather be doing... But it’s a tough night for a kid coming to a new league.
"The football is different and there will be a lot of learning. But he is a kid and he needs to be given time to develop.
"It’s a massive different between playing Under-23s football down the road and playing first team football for Hearts against Rangers.
"If you look at his career I don’t think he has played that much first team football. But he looks good in training, he has talent. He has not got the wonderkid tag for no reason.
"The talent just needs to be nurtured to make him a first team player. And I’m sure it will be.
"It’s experience. Everybody needs to get it and along the way you make mistakes.
"I made plenty myself at that age and older. That’s why I’m 27 now with grey hair."
