With the likelihood increasing that we’re going to take this Celtic team into Tynecastle, the obvious question arises: what do we do about the midweek game?

Hearts have benefited enormously this season from not having to worry about Europe. I’ll come back to that later, but the simple truth is this: Hearts do not have a sizeable squad, and the rigours of European football alongside a full domestic campaign would probably have broken them.

We’re in a strange position. I’m sure Martin O’Neill wants one last crack at living out his European managerial fantasy, and if we progress to the next round of the Europa League then who knows how things might turn out.

But for every round we get through, that’s two extra games we don’t need. That’s two games this squad is not equipped to handle.

And while I don’t want to see us give up on Europe — Europe is the stage we should be aiming to stand on — right now we have other priorities.

We have to win this title. That’s the bottom line.

It’s non-negotiable. We already look ragged. We already look as if getting over the line, getting to the summit, is...