Did a last-gasp Celtic penalty dent Hearts’ hopes?

It won’t be straightforward, though, and the thoughtful faces on the pitch and in the stands at Tynecastle on Wednesday reflected that.

Although they are unbeaten at home in the league – with 15 wins and four draws – Hearts have been less assured on the road, losing five and drawing four of 18.

Celtic Park is a tough place, but Hearts – as mentioned – have won there already this season, as have Rangers and Hibernians.

Still, former Celtic captain Scott Brown believes the capacity home crowd will be a huge factor.

“It’s going to be very nerve-wracking,” he said. “I think 60,000 fans at Celtic Park will make a difference. If there had been a draw (again at the park) and Celtic had scored three or four goals it would have been different.

“But at home, to win a title in front of your own fans on the last day of the season, (Celtic) players and managers will want to do that.”

Brown’s former Celtic teammate Darren O’Day agrees.

“I don’t think Celtic will blow Hearts away but I think they will get the job done,” he told Sportsound. “The energy from the crowd will be through the roof.”

Both sides have struggled with injuries this season, and Hearts will be without key defender Craig Halkett and influential midfielder Mark Leonard after both players underwent surgery on Achilles injuries.

McInnes was able to call on influential duo Harry Milne and Cammy Devlin from Wednesday’s start to replace them, but can they and their colleagues get back to the well – physically and mentally – after just three days?

Although he was angered by Celtic’s decision to win at Motherwell, McInnes was upbeat and enjoying the position his side are in.

“We’re glad to be a part of it,” he said. “To do that, we have to go and get a positive result. It’s going to be a game.”