Hearts boss Steven Naismith on similarities with Airdrie's Rhys McCabe

Steven Naismith's men advanced after defeating Spartans 2-1 at Ainslie Park last month, but have good reason to be wary of their Championship opponents after the Diamonds dumped St Johnstone out of the cup in the previous round.

Naismith met the press ahead of Sunday's cup clash at the Excelsior Stadium where the head coach discussed his admiration for Airdrie player/manager Rhys McCabe, warned of the dangers that the Lanarkshire club pose, and the battle for the gloves between Craig Gordon and Zander Clark.

Here's everything the former Scotland internationalist said.

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These must be exciting times for you, and another exciting game on Sunday?

Yeah. I think it's enjoyable at the moment because obviously we are on a good run, but probably the enjoyment comes more because we see a development. It's hard work, especially when you are in a three-game week. It's intense but there's definitely enjoyment there. And it's probably down to the progress we've made - not just results but because what we are doing in games is becoming more and more second nature. That gives me excitement and confidence that we are going in the right direction. The game on Sunday will be a different challenge. It'll be a tough game because they are a good team - a good footballing team - but we go into it confident.

What do you expect from Airdrie?

They do try and play. I don't think they've changed much at all from any opposition they've played. If you look at their division, when they've come up against Dundee Utd, Raith Rovers, they've got their style and know what they want to do. There's small tweaks within that. They played St Johnstone in the last round and again, didn't change. We know they are comfortable in possession and have good movement to cause you problems. That's what we'll need to guard against but we do definitely see opportunity that we can cause them some problems,

Is it refreshing that they won't just sit in and give you the ball?

Yes. I think in the cup games, there are probably two ways for teams that are the underdogs to go about it: sit and be defensively solid and try to develop the game and make it slow and then as the game goes on, the pressure builds; or you try and make it difficult by being brave and playing. I think a lot of credit needs to go to Rhys, not only for being a player and a coach, which I can only imagine being really tough, but the way they are doing things and what he wants them to do is a credit to him. To do that so early on is an achievement in itself.

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Did the two of you cross paths at Rangers?

He was a young player at Rangers when I was there. His team plays like he was as a player. He wasn't blessed with great pace but he had a really good touch, good positional play and he could see passes. I think his team is very much like that. It's a good footballing team, they work hard but they are brave and aggressive when they attack.

How would you deal with being player/manager?

I couldn't do it. I think it would be tough. I'd probably fall out with too many people! As a player I was a bit angrier than I am as a coach.

To do what Rhys is doing at his age shows a lot of maturity, doesn’t it?

Yes - and by the way, when he takes the job, I don't think he had the overall backing of everybody. People were questioning the decision so it's a credit to him that he's gone in there and people are talking about him as a good up-and-coming coach who has got a style, who is brave enough to do that and not be reactive when a couple of results don't go your way. I think that's the biggest thing I've taken into coaching from managers that I've had is that you need to fully believe in what you are doing. If you lose three on the bounce, you can't change up because if you change up, you lose all your credibility with the squad, the fans. He's somebody in the same position as myself. He's a young coach who is trying to develop something and has had some adversity but is coming through it. It's a clear message that it works.

What do you make of Craig Gordon’s contract extension?

The biggest thing I can say on that is that it's credit to him coming back from his injury that we have looked to renew his contract at this stage, rather than say, 'We'll wait until he's maybe had five appearances and see how he is.' We are confident he is back to where he was. I think I’ve said that consistently since he has been back training fully. Unfortunately for him, Zander has upped his level and you can't take him out of the team at the moment. That's just football. Craig has been brilliant in understanding that. He wants to play. He is frustrated that he isn't playing because he's got his individual goals. He is at an age where he wants to play every minute he can, but he is realistic. He understands there is competition for places.

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Have you had many conversations with him about the contract and his playing time?

We constantly chat, more so because we have been team-mates for a long time. He is more experienced than I am as a player so we chat constantly. I try to make that point with all the players but he is the one who understands it more than others. Everybody understands that I'm fair and I’m honest. I get that players will be frustrated and I'm happy with that - as long as they are realistic. If somebody is constantly chapping your door asking why they aren't playing, but they are not performing in training, that's where you will come into issues. Craig has been honest and understanding but he does want to play.

He played in the last round, is it fair to assume that he will get a chance again this weekend?

He might. He might not, though. We will wait and see. I'm not going to give up anything at the moment. The bigger thing is we have competition with two experienced goalies who both want to play. Zander has upped his game since Craigy has come back. That's the way it needs to be because the two of them are top-class goalies.

Any squad changes?

The Australians are back in, there haven't been any injuries from the other night. It's a good, healthy squad, which is brilliant for us.

Was Kingsley taken off because of his illness last week?

Yeah, and he came off because he was cramping up a bit. It was more to do with that. He is one of the best pros we've got and isn't normally somebody who is flagging at 70-odd minutes. We are putting that down to the illness he had the week before. We have good competition at the moment.