JIM JEFFERIES may be wearing maroon this weekend but he believes his former employers can give his beloved Hearts a tough test.

And, while he hopes that the Tynecastle club will get the better of the Pars in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash in Gorgie to extend their lead at the summit, he admits he'd be delighted if Stevie Crawford's men could join them in the top flight next season.

The popular 70-year-old managed Athletic for more than two-and-a-half years between 2012 and 2014, a period which saw the club enter administration in 2013, and subsequently endure relegation to League One.

He remains a popular figure amongst the Pars support for his leadership during one of the toughest periods in its history, and is revered by fans of the capital club he served with distinction as a player and manager.

Jefferies returned to the Jam Tarts in July last year, initially on a six-month basis, as an advisor to the board, and to also work alongside head coach Robbie Neilson, and revealed that he will continue in the position until the end of the season.

He will take his seat inside Tynecastle Park for a match which, if Dunfermline can bust a near 31-year winless streak in that part of the capital, they can narrow the gap to six points with a game in hand.

A victory for the hosts would put them firmly in the driving seat for a swift return to the top flight but, speaking exclusively to Press Sport, Jefferies admitted he liked what he saw of Crawford's men in November's reverse fixture.

The Pars won that match 2-1 and Jefferies said: "I was at the Dunfermline game and I thought it was a really good game that night.

"Hearts didn't play badly but Dunfermline played very well. The area of the pitch we felt that night where we felt we didn't play as well as we could was the midfield, and Dunfermline actually played very well in midfield that night. That's what probably shaded the game.

"I knew that they would be there or thereabouts. Stevie's been trying to build the squad gradually. They've not got huge resources we know – well, I should know – even with the takeover and things. Stevie knows the game and has built a really good squad there, with one or two experienced boys in that division, including the likes of (Declan) McManus, who has got goals elsewhere.

"I was impressed with them.They're not going to give anybody an easy game; they'll be there or thereabouts. Dunfermline, you'd think, will run Hearts closest.

"Out of the teams down there (in and around the play-off positions), I'd be quite happy for them to finish second!

"I really enjoyed my time at Dunfermline. They're a good club; just with the timing there, when all the things went off there with the administration, it was tough."

Hearts lost to Raith Rovers, who Dunfermline take on next Wednesday, at home last Saturday but responded with a thumping 4-0 win in Kirkcaldy against the same opponents on Tuesday, in what Jefferies felt was their best away performance of the season so far.

"Hearts have started well but you get setbacks like the game where Raith Rovers took advantage of some slack play," he continued.

"Hearts had a great last half hour, and could have won the game, but Raith got the points and you couldn't say they didn't deserve it because, for most of the game, they were comfortable.

"We always knew on Tuesday night that if Hearts started on the front foot because of how much that took out of Raith - John McGlynn had mentioned that before the game, and I'm sure that was Hearts' intention to start quickly - and they did. It's probably the best Hearts played away all season, and I've seen virtually all the games.

"It could have been a lot more than 2-0 at half-time, and then we dominated the second half without scoring until late on. It was a good response because the pressure was all on Hearts. It's always going to be every game and you've got to handle that.

"We've got a good squad, and we're playing some good football, so it should be a good game.

"I think it's a bigger game on Saturday because, if you look at the points – and Dunfermline have a game in hand – if they were to win it and win their game in hand, it's back down to three.

"If they don't, they could go 12 points behind, so it's a big game for Hearts to push on and try and get a good run of results.

"I think if we come through the February period we could be in a very strong position."

Off the field, Jefferies suffered a heart attack in September 2019 which, happily, he has fully recovered from, and is enjoying his new role with the club he led to Scottish Cup glory in 1998.

"Football's in the blood, as you know, so I was delighted when Ann (Budge, Hearts chairman) phoned to ask me to help her out way back in the middle of last year, just before the season got under way, and explained there was a lot of things going on legally with the football at the time," he added.

"Ann was heavily involved with that so it was just to come in and help her. I came in as an advisor and a consultant to the board, and helped her with a lot of things that needed to be done, especially to make spaces for Robbie to bring in players, because at the time we didn't have a sporting director, and the club was looking to get the right person.

"That happened just recently, earlier this month, when Joe Savage came in. I was giving a little bit of help until they got somebody so now it'll be a case of Joe being able to look after most of that and I can get back to the consultancy advisor role but, at the same time, helping Joe as much as I can.

"Especially with a lot of the younger players, we've put a lot of work in to get them out on loan but, having just done that, then the two leagues below the Championship were stopped. For a lot of the young players who were due to go out and get some games under their belt, that's not helped.

"There's other things that need to be addressed and, once the transfer window's closed, Joe and I will sit down and see how we can improve things in other areas."