Hearts captain Robbie Neilson hopes to open contract talks with club owner Vladimir Romanov in the next few weeks.
The 28-year-old has been at Tynecastle for 12 years and has enjoyed an excellent campaign since returning from a six-month injury lay-off in November.
"My contract situation has been going on since last season," said Neilson.
"I've spoken to the manager and he's looking to keep me but it's not him that puts the contracts out, so I'll need to speak to Mr Romanov."
Hearts have already decided to release Lithuanian duo Saulius Mikoliunas and Deividas Cesnauskis, while defender Christos Karipidis has agreed a summer move to Omonia Nicosia.
There's only a few weeks of this season left and I'm going to speak to Mr Romanov
Robbie Neilson
Playmaker Bruno Aguiar is out of contract at the end of the season and likely to leave, while fellow high-earner Laryea Kingston, who has a year of his deal to run, has been courting a possible transfer to England.
Left-back Lee Wallace and Neilson's deputy at right-back, Jason Thomson, have recently agreed new deals at Tynecastle.
However, Neilson's future remains unclear and he is in a hurry to resolve the issue.
"There's only a few weeks of this season left and I'm going to speak to Mr Romanov when he next comes over and then we'll decide what's going to happen," he added.
Going into Thursday's Edinburgh derby, Hearts hold a two-point advantage over Dundee United, who entertain Aberdeen on the same evening, in the race for third spot.
In February, Neilson said he thought clinching a European place would help his cause for a new contract and he repeated the importance of a lucrative run on the continent.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?