Two sides with a mountain to climb in their UEFA Europa Conference League group meet at Tynecastle on Thursday, when Hearts host Rigas Futbola Skola.
Both teams need a favour from Istanbul Basaksehir in the other game in the group to prevent this tie from becoming a dead rubber.
Match preview
Hearts' only points in the group so far came in the reverse tie in Riga on matchday two, as their two home games have produced some very forgettable performances, losing both without scoring and conceding seven.
By virtue of their 3-0 and 5-1 defeats to Fiorentina, and therefore an inferior head-to-head record against the Italians, Hearts must win both of their final two matches to have any chance of progressing through the group.
The Scottish side have lost five home games on the bounce now, letting in 15 goals in the process, but they were unfortunate to lose 4-3 here to Celtic at the weekend in a topsy-turvy encounter.
Robbie Neilson's men are winless in six in all competitions, losing five, but that should realistically change here against the Latvian minnows who will arrive with a very defensive mentality.
However, RFS have proved they are no pushovers at times in their maiden European campaign, but they face the same fate as Hearts, as two wins are required for them to have any chance of progression.
That appears on paper to be a near impossible task for RFS, considering they lost the reverse fixture on home turf, but they have already stunned Fiorentina and Basaksehir in the group so far, so anything is possible.
Viktors Morozs's side ended a five-game winless streak by beating Super Nova 4-0 on Sunday to strengthen their grip on a UECL place for next season, sitting five points clear of fourth place with three matches to go.
Even then though, it is unlikely they will make it this far again next season given the stature of the club, so they will be cherishing their final away trip of the group stage here.
An important footnote to consider for this game is that if Fiorentina beat Basaksehir in Florence, both sides will be eliminated.
- D
- D
- L
- D
- L
- W
Team News
Robert Snodgrass is not registered in Hearts' squad for the UECL following his late transfer from Luton Town in September, so he is ineligible and will drop out of the squad.
Lewis Neilson is back from suspension after he was sent off at home to Fiorentina on matchday three, but two of their starters from their last European fixture in Florence, Peter Haring (concussion) and Nathaniel Atkinson (ankle) will both miss out.
Craig Halkett will return to the squad in the coming weeks as his only appearance since August came in the reverse fixture in Latvia, but he came off within 20 minutes due to a hamstring injury.
Kye Rowles remains out with a broken foot and Liam Boyce will be absent until May with an ACL tear.
RFS Captain Tomas Simkovic is available for selection again after he was sent off against Basaksehir on matchday three, and the Austrian was rested at the weekend in their league encounter, so he should come back in here.
This could see Kevin Friesenbichler drop to the bench after he was given a start in the reverse fixture with the Turkish side.
Morozs often utilises a five-at-the-back in Europe with Alfusainey Jatta dropping back into defence from his usual midfield role.
Jatta was injured when Hearts visited on matchday two, but he was the standout performer in their two matches with Basaksehir and he also got in the scoresheet in their 4-0 win at the weekend.
Right-back Jovan Vlalukin started on the bench at the weekend but has been a regular in Europe, so he is expected to replace Vladislavs Sorokins here.
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Smith, Nielsen, Kingsley, Cochrane, Halliday; Forrest, Devlin, Kiomourtzoglou, McKay; Shankland
Rigas Futbola Skola possible starting lineup:
Steinbors, Vlalukin, Jatta, Jagodinskis, Lipuscek, Mares; Panic, Saric; Simkovic, Ilic, Rakels
We say: Hearts 1-0 Rigas Futbola Skola
RFS will almost certainly come to Tynecastle and sit back and hope for opportunities on the counter-attack, but this did not work as well in Istanbul as it did in Florence.
Hearts have been woeful at home of late, but did show a lot of fight and quality in netting three times against Celtic at the weekend, so they should be able to see off the Latvian side here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
