He told Press Association Sport: "I spoke to him on Saturday, we chat every couple of days on the phone. He is a good friend of mine.

"In the game at Tynecastle he was desperate to beat us and that won't change, he will be desperate to come here and put in a performance and will be desperate to get the points for Hearts and we are all desperate to get the points for St Johnstone.

"It just makes you more determined, if you do need any extra motivation, that you have to put one over him so to speak and that's what I am looking to do.

"I know when you go on the pitch, there are no friends it is simple as that.

"I get on brilliantly with Macca but if the chance is there for me to kick him or him to kick me, we won't be holding back, that's football.

"He is extremely competitive, I am the same and we are desperate to get a result for the team but it is not about Steven MacLean. He was brilliant for us but it isn't about him.

"We are desperate to keep the momentum going."

By contrast to St Johnstone, Craig Levein's side are without a win in six matches, losing their last four league games to leave them just two points above Saints.

However, Davidson stressed the fine margins involved in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

He said: "They are due a win but at the same time you have to make sure it is not against us.

"We are unbeaten in six, Hearts are winless in six but we know how fine the margins are. The whole league is so tight and one set-piece can win games.

"We know Hearts are an extremely good team and we know if we don't play well we won't get a result but at the same time we are more than capable of getting a result."

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