Sturm Graz are set to unleash star man Otar Kiteishvili at Tynecastle as they bid to kill off any threat of a Hearts fightback. The Georgia international – dubbed the best player in Austria by Sturm boss Fabio Ingolitsch – came off the bench at half time in last week's first leg thrashing and immediately set up Jeyland Mitchell's second goal.
Kiteishvili's Impact and Fitness
Playmaker Kiteishvili missed pre-season with a muscle injury. But asked if he was ready to start in Gorgie, Ingolitsch said: “I hope so.”
“Kitte always has a very big impact. He is the best player in our club. He is the best player in Austria for the last years.”
“He didn't have a pre-season, so it's not so easy for him and also for us to give him the right load in the right moment. But we all know about the importance of tomorrow's game. It's one of the guys we really need to take care of.”
“We need to see after the final training today how is his body feeling, then we need to make a final decision together if he can start or come from the bench again.”
Ingolitsch Expects All-Out Hearts
Ingolitsch expects Hearts to go for the jugular from the very start as they look to salvage the tie. He said: “I expect all or nothing. I think they will try to go immediately to the front.”
“They'll try to lead very early in the game and, with the stadium, then it's going to be more ugly for us for sure. We need to be prepared for this, especially in the starting phase.”
“For sure we try to have our clean sheet mentality like we are used to in the last season and also in the start of this season.”
“If we are very good in defending, I think we will get big spaces to have our transitional play. Big spaces are perfect for us. Our players need that kind of space to get their strengths on the pitch. But we need to defend really, really good.”
“We are ready to make this last step over the line.”
