Tynecastle can perhaps justifiably lay claim to being the Premiership’s most daunting away venue at present, and not just for its’ famous atmosphere.

The physical nature of the Hearts side is an ongoing source of contention, but if any side is going to come away from Gorgie with anything other than a sound beating, they know that first they must stand up to that challenge.

Partick Thistle found that out to their cost earlier in the season, as a rampant Hearts side brushed them easily aside on their last visit to the capital.

This time, Jags defender Gary Miller is promising a more robust Thistle resistance, and he believes that if they can provide that, their football can then do the talking.

He said: “You can see that Hearts have a lot of big guys in every department of their side and, coming through the youth ranks, I remember them as always being like that.

“They put the emphasis on the physical aspect but they can also play a bit as well. They like to use their strength but we’ll just concentrate on what’s good for us – anyway, it doesn’t matter how big they are if we pass the ball around them.

“We have our own game plan and, hopefully, that will pay off for us. I enjoy playing at Tynecastle because of the fantastic atmosphere – the stands are right on top of you.

“It wasn’t great the last time we went there but this can be different – it’s a chance for us to make up for that.

“Tynecastle has a great surface, so that should help us. It’s one of the flattest in the country and it always seems to be in good nick. We’re looking forward to going there and getting the ball down.”

Miller has impressed since his return to the Thistle side after Mustapha Dumbuya picked up an ankle injury, and he is expected to keep his place in the starting eleven for today’s game with Dumbuya still struggling.

He may have kept his place anyway given his fine performances, and he admits that it feels as if his hard work is now paying off.

“I just kept my head down and kept working and it’s good to be involved again,” he said.

“Obviously, it was brilliant to come back in for the game against Motherwell and win it in the last minute.

“Unfortunately, the same thing then went against us in the Scottish Cup at Tannadice but we handled them for most of the game and one goal for either side was always going to be enough.

“Now we just need to concentrate on the league, which has always been the priority for us in any case.

“We were disappointed and unhappy with that result but it’s gone and we need to get past it and take something from Hearts.

“I’d hoped to have played more after coming here but I’ve always found in football that, if you put in the work, you get the rewards.

“I’ve been back in the team for a few games now and I want to keep improving so that I can stay there.

“The last time I was in I scored in a 2-1 win away to St Johnstone and I played really well. I thought after that I would get a run in the side but it didn’t work out that way.”

With the league currently so tight, Thistle fans may be dreaming of gatecrashing the top six if they can string a good run of results together.

Miller would love that to happen, but he was honest enough to say that he would grab tenth place if it was offered to him right now.

“Yes, I would but I think we can do better than that,” he said.

“When we won a few games recently we got up to seventh but, because it’s very tight, if we can win our few games in hand then we can shoot right up the table again.

“The top six is definitely within our reach and we’ll be looking to finish as high as we can.”