Derek McInnes is gearing up his team for their biggest challenge of the season as league leaders Hearts face off against reigning champions Celtic. Hearts have made an unbeaten start to the Scottish Premiership campaign, leading by five points after eight matches. The clash with Celtic presents an opportunity to extend their lead to eight points. Despite the promising start and the potential to clinch the title, McInnes remains grounded and is not getting carried away by early success.

The manager, who took charge in May, is pleased with the team's transformation, bolstered by investment from Tony Bloom and a partnership with Jamestown Analytics. Over the summer, 11 new players were brought in, who have already made a significant impact. Hearts have also tightened up defensively, recording four consecutive clean sheets. McInnes emphasizes that regardless of the outcome against Celtic, he is satisfied with the team's performance and aims to minimize losses throughout the season.

Celtic, under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, are facing some challenges both on and off the pitch. Nevertheless, McInnes acknowledges that the match will be tough and expects a strong performance from the opposition. "I anticipate a competitive game because both teams have quality players," the Hearts manager stated.

Analysis: Hearts are in excellent form and will be eager to prove they can compete with the best, but the match against Celtic will be a true test of their ambitions. Their success will hinge on their ability to maintain stability and focus throughout the season.