Vrancken was without eight players for Wednesday’s clash with Rangers and then had to deal with makeshift full-back Rogers Mato – normally a forward – going off with a muscle injury.

Hearts were trailing at the time but Rangers ended up needing an 89th-minute goal to leave Tynecastle with a point from a 2-2 draw.

Vrancken’s side continue an intense run of games in between two international breaks with a Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Hibernian and have largely dealt well with the challenge, with the notable exception of their 7-1 thrashing at Celtic Park.

Discussing the injury situation, the Belgian said: “It’s not so easy to do. It shows that they’re focused and concentrated because they know in different positions what to expect. They can do it.

“I’m happy to see it as a coach. We needed it for sure in this run of games with all those top games we played already and we will play. I’m happy to see that they can cope with it.”

Defeat at Celtic Park was followed by a respectable showing in a 2-0 loss at Trabzonspor. Hearts then won at Motherwell before coming close to clinching victory over Rangers.

“Every next game feels like the biggest one,” Vrancken said. “So it’s always not looking too far forward, but focusing on what is in front of you.

“It’s not like you can pick games, you cannot say, this one we really want to win, the other one, okay. So it’s not working like this.

“You have to focus on what’s coming and going full energy in this. And now it’s the semi-final.”

Recently appointed Hibs boss Marink Reedijk has previously encountered Hearts counterpart Vrancken from their time working in Belgium.

“When I was an assistant, yes, and in friendly matches in Belgium as well,” said former Beveren boss Reedijk, recalling meetings with the former Sint-Truiden head coach.

“He has a very clear style of playing, he doesn’t change much about this, so we are well aware of what we can expect. We also saw how he brings it here to Scotland, and this is a challenging way and a nice way, so it will be a nice football match against them.”

Reedijk grew up supporting Ajax in De Klassieker and is relishing his first experience of the Edinburgh derby since succeeding David Gray in late September.

“In terms of going to the matches, Ajax-Feyenoord,” said the Dutchman when asked about his first memories of watching derbies.

“The first time I went there, it was like a big spectacle to me where you saw a lot of people coming in very emotional, and some were waiting for the fans of the opponent coming out of the train, these kind of elements.

“What I just hope is that everything which is done between the fans is in a respectful manner and in an appropriate way. That’s important to me as well.”