A city divided, but both team bosses are united on at least one opinion – the maroon half of Edinburgh deserve to be where they are given their performances so far this season.
Slip up on Tuesday, though, and their four-month spell at the top of the table could come to an end 24 hours later should Rangers win their equally tough fixture away to fourth-top Motherwell.
To avoid that fate, McInnes says his side “cannot dwell” on their defeat in Paisley and the loss of key centre-half Craig Halkett through suspension.
“We are top of the league for a reason – because we have been good,” he said.
“We have to be honest and say, going down to 10 men the other night, made the whole evening far more challenging than it needed to be.
“When we have lost this season, it’s been by the odd goal or penalty kicks. The bar’s been raised and everybody expects so much from us in every game.”
While Hearts have indeed been “competitive”, their cause has not been helped by red cards for goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, midfielder Beni Beningime and then Halkett in recent weeks.
However, McInnes insisted: “It is a concentration thing, not a discipline thing.”
He knows they cannot afford any more of that, or the “slow start” he blames for December’s derby defeat, and dismisses suggestions that his side might be feeling extra pressure from an improving Old Firm.
Rangers are now only three points adrift, and only three behind on goal difference, while reigning champions Celtic are three further back with a game in hand.
“We’ve been top of the league for four and a half months, so no extra anxiety,” McInnes said.
“Every game is important. We’ve got 13 cup finals.
“We’ve got three home games out of the next four. We’ve had some tough fixtures and we have some good fixtures coming up for us to show our strength.”
McInnes thought, with injuries forcing changes against St Mirren, “there was a wee bit lack of energy because some players have maybe not played as much recently”.
However, it would not force him into starts for fit-again record signing Eduardo Ague in midfield, or January forward arrivals Rogers Mato and Islam Chesnokov.
“I get the clamour for these players to be involved,” McInnes said. “There is nobody more excited when you sign players and a manager wants to bring players who are ready, but they’re not ready and we’re trying hard to get them ready.
“When you sign players in January when their leagues finish in November then it’s difficult to get them up to speed and Scottish football is more intense, but hopefully they can have a positive influence between now and the end of the season.”
