Revelling and thriving amid mounting pressure is a skill Hearts have mastered so far this season. Their attempt to win the Scottish league title would, if successful, create a slice of Scottish football history. Dealing with rising expectations and clamour from elsewhere for them to fail is not easy.

Some clubs would prefer Hearts didn’t navigate the final nine games of the William Hill Premiership season to finish first. That is just the nature of competitive sport. Inside the Tynecastle Park dressing room, there is quiet confidence ahead of Saturday’s trip to Kilmarnock. Hearts are currently five points clear at the top of the table. If you want major achievements in football, you simply need to handle periods like this.

“That’s what you want as footballers. You want that pressure,” says midfielder Blair Spittal. “Going into games, especially at this time of the season, you’d rather be playing for something than not. It’s up to us to keep a level head, keep the mindset strong in the changing room. It’s probably boring to listen to it but it’s all about taking one game at a time. We’ve got a massive game on Saturday that needs to be taken care of and we’ll be willing to do that. It doesn’t matter what anybody else does, it’s all up to what we do at the end of the day.

“Obviously, there are a lot of boys from different backgrounds, different cultures coming together and they’ve fitted in seamlessly in the dressing room. I’m not saying a lot of that is down to the Scottish group in the changing room, but the boys that have been here before and know what to expect from Scottish football, it’s up to us to help and guide them along the way. You know what to expect at certain places because we all know how tough it is and we’ve got that experience to draw back on, so we’re always there for the foreign boys. If they want to have a chat or talk about things, then we’re always there.”

Spittal is feeling fresh having been used as a squad player for most of the season by Hearts head coach Derek McInnes. He would have preferred more than the eight starts to his name so far. After two fine displays in the last two games, he is a strong contender to keep his place against Kilmarnock. The midfielder feels he has plenty football in him.

“Aye, feeling good,” he says. “I think that’s your job at the end of the day. When you’re not playing, just make sure you’re ready for when the opportunity comes. It’s been a bit frustrating but you can’t complain when the boys are going out and winning games. It’s up to the group behind that to make sure we keep our standards high and make sure we’re ready for the opportunity.”

He has spoken with McInnes to learn what he needs to do to play more, but Spittal isn’t one to cause any ructions. “Aye, there’s a bit of both. You have conversations with the manager. That’s part and parcel of football when you’re not playing. The coaching staff are really good in terms of checking in and seeing how you are, but like I said you can’t complain when the boys are going out and winning games.

“It’s just been nice in the past couple of games to help contribute to two good wins [against Falkirk and Aberdeen]. It’s just up to me when I get my opportunity to make sure I play well. I feel like I’ve done that over the last two games, so hopefully if I’m selected I can keep giving the manager a bit of a headache. Managers always say that the more players are playing well, the better for them as well in terms of selection dilemmas. It’s just up to us to do that.”

Spittal was used in an advanced midfield role against Falkirk and then tucked in off the left flank against Aberdeen. He won’t complain, no matter where he is asked to play. “As long as I’m playing. I’m happy. I’ve said that numerous times throughout my career. I’ve played everywhere, not stuck to one position, but the last couple of games have been good the way we’ve played I feel.

“It’s suited us in terms of having the two boys up front. In the last game, we managed to flip Aberdeen in behind quite a lot, but at the same time we showed a bit of composure. It’s always good having Marc [Leonard] in there beside you. He knows that role in terms of what to do. His game management has been really good as well.

“I started off as a full-back when I was younger. When I first started playing at Queen’s Park, I was put to right-back even though I’d been playing No.19 and left wing for the under-19s. I got forced into playing right back because there was nobody else. That was a bit of an eye-opener, playing in that first-team environment in that position. I think those days of playing full-back are behind me now, to be honest. It’s cliché, I know, but as long as I’m playing I’m happy.”