Heart of Midlothian face a trip to Kilmarnock this afternoon in their first post-split fixture, safe in the knowledge that a victory will wrap up third place - and secure group-stage European football next term.

Alan Forrest met the press ahead of the encounter at Rugby Park where the winger discussed why this season could be the best of his career, and Hearts' refusal to take their foot off the gas.

Here's everything that Forrest said.

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With a win sealing third, the team must be really motivated for this one?

Definitely. It is important we bounce back from last week and it is a great game for us. It’s in our hands and if we win that seals third place. We will be going down there to try and get a win.

Already beaten them twice there this season, you must be feeling confident?

Yeah. We know it is not going to be easy as they have been there or thereabouts all season. It’s going to be tough. Even the games we won down there were really tough, so we know we need to be ready.

Is this the best season of your career?

It has got to be up the top. I have played quite a number of games this season and managed to chip in and help the team as much as I can. We are in third place and we obviously would have liked to have done better in the cup semi-finals, but it shows how far we have come that we are feeling disappointed after the Rangers game. It shows we are not just looking to get to semi-finals but to get there and beat the likes of Rangers and Celtic. Third isn’t done yet. We need to get a result and if we manage to do that, it would be my best season.

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How do you better it next season?

If we get into Europe and manage to balance that by doing well in the league, that is the next aim and then to go one better in the cups. There is plenty to look forward to next year and to strive to get better.

With third all but secured there can be a perception that the season is over, but have you got targets to keep you going?

Yeah. Especially as it stands just now, it’s not done. Kilmarnock are still pushing and might think they have a chance of catching us, so they will be well up for this one. We can’t say that the season is done or anything because we still have to focus on that game. And even if we do get a result, I don’t think we’re the type to take our foot off the gas. The manager has given us the aim of getting as many points as we can and we want to hit that 70-point mark. The boys will push to get three points even if the games don’t mean anything. You’re playing for Hearts so you still want to win every game.