Fighting it out for a place in the new-look Europa League group phase, Hearts visit Viktoria Plzen for the first leg of their playoff on Thursday.
While the Scottish side are facing their first European test of the season, Plzen came through the third qualifying round to set up this crucial two-legged tie.
Match preview
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Despite finishing third in the Scottish Premiership standings behind Glasgow's Old Firm, Hearts concluded the 2023-24 campaign by winning just one of their last six matches, and they have now started slowly this season.
Following a sub-par pre-season, the Edinburgh club have taken just one point from two league games, and last week's defeat to Falkirk in the League Cup piled further pressure on head coach Steven Naismith.
Now, Hearts make their first appearance on the European stage since qualifying for the 2022-2023 Europa Conference League, when they were ultimately eliminated at the group stage.
Making it into the Europa League's newly expanded format would secure at least eight matches between September and January, so the Jambos will be desperate to turn their dismal form around and overcome Plzen.
However, on Thursday they will seek just a sixth away win in UEFA competition since the turn of the century, summing up the size of the task ahead of them.
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Furthermore, Plzen's Doosan Arena can be a tough place for visitors to tread, as this week's hosts have built a strong reputation in Europe over the past few years.
Recent group-stage campaigns in the Champions League and Conference League have brought contrasting fortunes: the Czech club lost all six games in the elite competition two years ago but then took maximum points from their Conference League group last season.
They then reached the quarter-finals - where they only lost to eventual finalists Fiorentina after extra time - and completed their domestic campaign by finishing third for a second successive season.
Six-time Czech champions, Plzen last claimed the title in 2022, but Miroslav Koubek's men have started with four wins and one draw this term and are breathing down the neck of First League leaders Sparta Prague.
Most recently, they won 3-0 away to Ceske Budejovice to extend an unbeaten start, having previously overcome Kryvbas in their opening Europa League qualifier.
After a 2-1 first-leg victory over the Ukrainian side, Viktoria sealed the deal thanks to a 1-0 victory back at home, with striker Daniel Vasulin getting his name on the scoresheet in both matches.
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Team News
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Ahead of Saturday's League Cup exit, Hearts made eight changes to the side that had previously lost to Dundee, with only Gerald Taylor, James Penrice and Kenneth Vargas keeping their places in the starting lineup.
It is likely to be all-change again on Thursday evening, as Steven Naismith recalls several players, including Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland.
Frankie Kent's presence remains doubtful due to a toe injury, while Beni Baningime and Calem Nieuwenhof will both miss out.
Plzen's top scorer in qualifying so far is Daniel Vasulin, with two goals in the previous round, and he should partner Pavel Sulc - who has found the net three times in seven games this season - in the hosts' attack.
Brazilian forward Ricardinho has yet to make an impact since signing from Levski Sofia earlier this summer, but - along with veteran striker Matej Vydra - he could be deployed from the bench.
Like Sulc, midfielder Lukas Cerv and centre-back Robin Hranac were part of the Czech Republic's Euro 2024 squad, and both should start against Hearts; however, Lukas Hejda, Christophe Kabongo and Jan Sykora all feature on a long injury list.
Viktoria Plzen possible starting lineup:
Tvrdon; Dweh, Hranac, Jemelka; Kopic, Cerv, Kalvach, Sloncik, Havel; Sulc, Vasulin
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Clark; Taylor, Kingsley, Rowles, Penrice; Devlin, Grant; Dhanda, Shankland, McKay; Vargas
We say: Viktoria Plzen 3-0 Hearts
Hearts will make their first European trip of the season more in hope than expectation, as Plzen are in excellent form and boast an impressive pedigree.
By contrast, the Jambos have been stuck in second gear so far, and they may already be out of the contest before next week's second leg in Scotland.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
