'It's all about us' - Magnusson urges Hearts to ignore Old Firm 'noise'

Tomas Magnusson insists league leaders Hearts need to focus on themselves this weekend and not be sidetracked by how the Old Firm derby result might benefit them.

Derek McInnes' side can go seven points clear by beating Aberdeen on Saturday before nearest challengers Rangers and Celtic meet at Ibrox the following day.

Hearts stretched their lead last weekend when both chasers dropped points and Magnusson knows this weekend offers another "opportunity" for his side.

Asked what outcome he would like from the Old Firm derby, the Icelandic midfielder said: "I don't know. I just want to win on Saturday.

"Wherever you play, you do check how the other teams are doing. But the results last Sunday, they don't mean anything if we don't win on Saturday.

"Obviously you do check, but it's all about us.

"We know the situation and speak about it and all but I think it's not too difficult blocking out the noise because that's what we've done throughout the season.

"We just think about ourselves and try to be the best on Saturday.

"Every win gives us more confidence and there's 10 games left, so if we can get those wins in, we'll be more confident."

Sir Alex Ferguson, whose Aberdeen team were the last non-Old Firm side to win the title, in 1985, will be at Tynecastle on Saturday as a guest of Hearts boss Derek McInnes.

That is a sign of the growing interest in Hearts' incredible season but Magnusson says the squad are comfortable with the level of scrutiny.

"Obviously we know the situation and speak about it and all but I think it's not too difficult blocking out the noise because that's what we've done throughout the season," he said.

"We just think about ourselves and try to be the best on Saturday. Every win gives us more confidence and there's 10 games left, so if we can get those wins in, we'll be more confident."

Magnusson, who became a father a fortnight ago when his partner gave birth to a baby girl, is enjoying his first season in Scotland after joining from Valur last summer.

"It's been good, my first time abroad playing football," he said. "I've loved every aspect of it, in and out of football. I think it's been good for my development as a player."