The Jambos look set to be taken by caretaker Austin McPhee at Ibrox on Sunday, with Craig Levein having departed Tynecastle last month.
After impressing against St Mirren prior to the international break with a 5-2 win, they followed that up with a 3-0 loss at Kilmarnock last weekend – a result Gerrard did admit came as a shock to him.
Asked if Hearts were in ‘turmoil’ by one reporter at today’s press conference, Gerrard said: “I wouldn’t say turmoil – I think that is a bit strong. They obviously had a positive result after the semi-final loss to us where they beat St Mirren very comfortably.
“They scored five goals and looked really dangerous. They have got some bodies back in terms of injuries, and then last week, I actually fancied them to go and get a result at Killie and it was a bit of a shock to us looking in from the outside.
“You look at Naismith, Ikpeazu, Jamie Walker is back in the picture, Mulraney – they have got exciting players who, if we’re not at it, they can cause us problems.
“For me the focus has got to be that we are right and we are ready.”
The Light Blues go into the game off the back, of course, of last night’s 2-2 draw away to Feyenoord in the Europa League.
On that, Gerrard continued: “I am certainly proud of the result. It was a very tough fixture in a hostile environment, and the players have eventually got a very positive result which adds to a very credible record in Europe.
“I thought we were second best in the first 45 and didn’t really recognise our identity and what we have been building for 18-19 months here.
“So I was a bit disappointed in us at half-time. I asked for a reaction from the players and asked them to go out and really show the real side of us – I thought we were excellent second half and certainly a lot better than the first-half, besides probably the goal we have conceded which was poor defending.”
The manager was also asked today at the Hummel Training Centre if he expected his team to have been just as good as they have so far this season.
He said: “I expected more consistency and more hunger, and us to get better results because I believe we made the squad and the team stronger in the summer.
“I expected our discipline to be better, which helps in-terms of results. I think now we have got players who understand the professionalism that is required at this club, and the standards, so I think we have got more of a robust team and we are not getting as many injuries as last year.
“But, we are on a good run – but that is all it is – a good run and we need to continue it and we need to keep pushing and make sure we are ready for Hearts and take each game as it comes and keep churning results out.”
Gerrard also gave a team-news update ahead of Sunday’s Ibrox clash, adding: “Jermain Defoe is still a doubt as we haven’t seen him today – it’s not a big problem and I am confident he will be available.
“We have a couple of people who are tight from last night in terms of muscles that we will assess again, but there are no major problems from last night.
So, fingers-crossed we should be fully fit across the goal.”