Hearts could be missing as many as six stars from their Europa Conference League squad as they face Petrocub on Thursday.
The Jambos dropped to the bottom of the Premiership table on Sunday after a 1-0 away defeat to 10-man Kilmarnock, certainly not ideal preparation for a hugely significant clash.
Hearts are guaranteed a knockout play-off place if they beat the Moldovan minnows who have lost every game in their own campaign bar a draw with Istanbul Basaksehir.
Millions of prize money is on the line too, but Hearts will have to get the job done without a number of key players.
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Hearts may be without seven players for Petrocub
Defenders Frankie Kent and Stephen Kingsley are long-term injury casualties, as are Calem Nieuwenhof and Gerald Taylor.
On top of that, Adam Forrester is suspended for the Petrocub encounter while midfielder Beni Baningime is a doubt after a knee problem.
Hearts will also be missing Musa Drammeh although he wasn’t included in the Conference League squad. On the upside, captain Lawrence Shankland is eligible again after serving his suspension.
Hearts manager Neil Critchley spoke to the press and said: “Shanks will be back, he’s eligible. Obviously, we’re missing Frankie and Kings.
“Beni has done a little bit of training in the last 24 to 48 hours. That’ll be a decision on whether we think Beni is ready to go and be included.
“Adam Forrester is obviously suspended and Musa [Drammeh] is not eligible. So there’s another two.
“The squad will be utilised. We’ve got a busy period coming up, but you can never take your eye off the next game because that’s the most important one. And this is obviously a really important game.”
Neil Critchley won’t underestimate Petrocub
On facing Petrocub, who sit second-bottom in the Conference League table, Critchley said: “If you look at their last few performances and their results, even though their league is obviously finished, they’ve not conceded many goals in the league.
“They’re tough to play against. They’re not easy to break down. They’re well coached. They’ve got an experienced coach who quite clearly can tinker with certain areas or certain personnel within their system to make it difficult for you.
“They like to have the ball. They like to play as well. They’ve got some good technicians in the team. We’re not underestimating them at all. We give full respect to everyone, whoever we’re playing, home or away.
“Our process of preparing for games doesn’t change. So, we’re prepared as if we’re playing Celtic, Copenhagen, Rangers. It’s the same. But always with the basic fundamentals of who we want to be as well.”