Stephen Kingsley and Jorge Grant will not be in included in Heart of Midlothian’s matchday squad for Wednesday evening’s trip to Paisley.
Hearts face St Mirren with little to play for on paper, but Steven Naismith and his players know that a victory will lift the team up to 69 points in the Premiership table: one shy of Naismith’s stated aim of 70 with one game left to play.
Grant will miss the penultimate game of the season due to a bout of illness, while Naismith is not prepared to risk Kingsley, who is carrying a knock.
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“Jorge Grant has got an illness so he is probably not going to be involved,” Naismith told Hearts TV.
“Stephen Kingsley is just feeling a bit fatigued. A nerve has been giving him a sensation in his leg, so we’ll not risk him.
“Other than that, I think we have got everybody available and fit.”
Naismith explained in Saturday's post-match press conference that Frankie Kent, who sat out the 3-0 win over Dundee to recover from a niggle, will be included in the squad - and he may not be the only returning player.
Liam Boyce, who was a regular during the first half of the campaign before picking up a hamstring injury, hasn’t played since a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock at the tail end of last year – but the Northern Irish striker could well be on the bench at the SMiSA Stadium.
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Speaking on Friday, Naismith said: “Hopefully [Boyce will play before the end of the season]. He will be in contention for the squads.
“He has worked really hard over the last few weeks to say: 'No, I want to be involved. I'm not just going to ride the season out.'
“Him and Halks have done the same so we'll wait and see. There's no pressure but they are looking good from when they've come back.”
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