Hearts welcome Stenhousemuir to Tynecastle in what will be their penultimate League Cup group stage match.
Craig Levein’s side played out a 1-1 draw in their first match against Dundee United, winning the penalty shootout, before a comfortable 2-0 away victory over Cowdenbeath.
Hearts fans will hope for an easy victory over Stenhousemuir. (photo by Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images)
They should coast to victory over the Warriors in Gorgie, but as their Aberdeen Scottish Cup draw earlier this year showed, Stenhousemuir are no pushovers.
Here’s what we think Craig Levein’s side will look like.
The starting XI
In goals we think it’ll be Zdenek Zlamal. In the full-back positions will be Michael Smith and Aaron Hickey on the right and left respectively. Hickey replaces Bobby Burns who started at Central Park most recently.
Hickey will be back in against the Warriors. (photo by Alan Rennie/Action Plus via Getty Images)
A centre-half pairing will consist of Craig Halkett and John Souttar, with Christophe Berra likely to be rested.
In the centre of midfield will see the return of Andy Irving alongside Anthony McDonald. Irving returns to the starting XI after seeing red against Dundee United to make up an academy midfield pairing.
Jamie Walker will return to the right wing after featuring from the bench against the Blue Brazil. On the opposite side will be Jake Mulraney, who recently penned a Tynecastle extension.
Mulraney’s penned a new Gorgie deal. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Up top will be the handful that is Uche Ikpeazu with youngster Aidan Keena, who we think will be handed his first start of the season.
Overall there are seven changes from the side that beat Cowdenbeath. There is more than enough quality in this side to see off the Warriors.
Here’s our starting XI in list form.