NO GIFTS ON MY ANNIVERSARY

ROBBIE NEILSON plays his 200th game for Hearts today but the milestone will mean nothing if his side don't beat Hibs.

The right back - who made his Scotland debut against Ukraine in midweek - knows the importance of victory if challenging for the title is to stay a realistic ambition.

Hibs ended the Tynecastle men's unbeaten run last term and Robbie doesn't want to see a repeat.

Neilson, a terrific servant particularly during the past three seasons, said: "It will be difficult, the first derby of the season is always hard to judge.

"Hibs seem to be at their best against the so-called bigger teams because there's room to attack and we will not sit in against them.

"Teams sit in against us too and it can be frustrating but today's game will be full of attacking football.

"If I play it will be my 200th match for Hearts. I'm the longest serving player at the club.

"Jim Jeff eries signed me 10 years ago and it's been an enjoyable time.

"I'd like to think I will be a one-club man. I enjoy being at Hearts and we are heading in the right direction.

"I hope I'm here for a while more but things change quickly in football.

"However, I'm happy at the moment and so is my family which is the most important thing.

"My contract runs until the summer of 2009 and that's good stability. Prior to that deal I was signing for a year or two here and there.

"There are no plans as yet for a testimonial, it's not something I'm thinking about at the moment.

"The most important thing is we beat Hibs and get three points to keep up with Celtic and ahead of the others.

"Finishing second last season was a fine achievement and we want to do the same again at least.

"The league is so important and we have improved with every game. Our confidence is high and we believe we can win every match we play in the SPL.

"But this is an unpredictable one. Hibs were the first team to defeat us last season.

"They ended our unbeaten run and are never easy to beat."

Neilson (26) expects the Easter Road atmosphere to be electric and knows the players will be on the receiving end of serious stick from rival supporters.

Robbie said: "This will be a passionate game. Our fans will take up their full allocation and the crowd at opposite ends will give each other absolute pelters for 90 minutes.

"The rivalry is fierce, the same as Celtic against Rangers if not worse. They really have a go at each other.

"A lot of players on both sides are supporters and know exactly what it means.

"They are fans privileged enough to wear the jersey and if they lose they will be hurting as much as the man in the street.

"If they win they will be as happy as any supporter."

Neilson has played under Jim Jefferies, Craig Levein, John Robertson, George Burley, Graham Rix and Valdas Ivanauskas and has had to work hard at his game to make the grade. He was sent out to Queen of the South to gain some first team experience during his early days with Hearts.

Players in both sides this afternoon have also had that kind of learning process and Neilson is always pleased to see guys coming back from loan and being the better for it.

He said: "It's great to see lads coming through the ranks.

"It's important that fans see Scottish players in the team.

"It keeps an identity, proves there is hard work going on behind the scenes to make the club better and rear the stars of the future.

"It also lets kids know if they sign for Hearts they will have a chance of going all the way on to the first team if they show the right attitude and progress to being good enough to play at that level.

"We have Jamie Mole at the moment and we've also had Lee Wallace and Calum Elliot in recent seasons.

"Craig Gordon is another to make it through from schoolboy age so it's terrific.

"Hibs have Kevin Thomson, Stephen Whittaker, Scott Brown and others and it's great for Edinburgh to have talent like that playing in the city every week.

"It's absolutely vital for both clubs that it continues and I'm certain it will."

Taken from the Sunday Mail