usually you would , but thats easier on a petrol screwing into the spark plug holes , if needs be I will take oout the injectors and thread some appriately thick rope in and then use the piston to compress it against the head/valves .. Done it that way on a lot of other cars no problems .

I know the gap between piston and valve is small but how small ??

I will be doing it next week so I'll post pics anyway ..
 
The piston protrudes past the deck of the block also the combustion chamber is in the piston not the head so if you can get the piston at tdc for the valve stem seals you are changing in theory you should be ok.
 

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