Jim Jefferies believes Hearts may need to win only two of their final six matches before the Clydesdale Bank Premier League split to secure a place in the top six.

Saturday's victory at Aberdeen moved the Jambos eight points clear of their seventh-placed opponents. The Dons do have a game in hand, while St Johnstone will go above Hearts on goal difference if they win all three of their games in hand.

"I think we're a couple of wins away from the games remaining to claim a top-six place and the sooner we can get them, the better," Jefferies told Hearts.TV.

Jefferies' side have won their last three matches but their next four games are against sides above them, starting with Sunday's trip to Dundee United, followed by a game at Motherwell.

He added: "It was great to win at Pittodrie on Saturday and we have more tough games coming up at Tannadice and Fir Park.

"If anyone had offered us three draws from those matches, we'd probably have said, 'Yes - but if you could throw in a win, that would be better'.

"Well, we have that win now. But we can try to win the next two and if we do, we are right back in the mix at the right end of the table."

The United and Motherwell games are followed by Jefferies' first Edinburgh derby since he returned to Tynecastle.

He added: "If we can win the next two games, there will be a hell of an atmosphere for the derby as we'll be on the tails of the top end of the table. But it's easy to say these things - it's about doing it.

"We have built up a bit of momentum. Everyone is bouncing around at training so we have to try to keep it going now."