There are just eight days until Hearts walk into the eye of the Sturm. Not so much a date with destiny, but certainly an evening which could go a long way to shaping how the season pans out at Tynecastle.
For the first time in two decades, the Jambos will enter the qualifying rounds of the Champions League with the trip to face Sturm Graz in Austria on July 21. That date is a hell of an early start for players who have still to oil the last of the summer rustiness from their legs.
For a club with a management team who will only have been in the door for 26 days by that point — and one who are looking to get a tune out of a group of players who have lost their captain, two vice captains and the spine of their side — it is a tall order.
Time is against Vrancken
Wouter Vrancken knows time is against him. But he is not for hanging around making excuses as he drills down into the parts at his disposal and looks to form them into a smooth, functioning machine.
The Belgian has overseen three friendlies where over 40 players have been deployed, bringing two wins over St Mirren and Kilmarnock and a defeat to Livingston, with eight goals scored and four conceded.
Tomorrow night Hearts will face Arbroath in player-manager Colin Hamilton's testimonial match at Gayfield. On Friday they step up their Euro preparations by tackling La Liga big guns and Europa League runners-up Rayo Vallecano at Tynecastle. Then it is full steam ahead for Graz.
Beat the Austrians over the two legs and a minimum Europa League league phase spot is guaranteed while the Champions League jackpot would come that bit closer into view. Immediately the progress box would be ticked for the new manager. For that to happen, Vrancken must get close to knowing his best starting XI by full-time against Vallecano.
No more friendlies to shape thoughts
He said: "It's not possible anymore. Otherwise you play too many games and minutes and it's not possible. So we make the best of it in these games and we have to be ready for Sturm Graz — simple as that."
"The preparation towards the Sturm Graz game is really, really short. Not so many friendlies. I saw every player like 45 and 60 minutes (in Friday's double header against Killie and Livingston). So it's not a lot. So now we have to go a little bit more towards that game. And it's good that we saw some guys who have to step up a little bit and other guys who are really good into it."
While the backline might look familiar come kick off in Graz, the question over who replaces Cammy Devlin in midfield looks likely to be answered, in the short term at least, by Tom Renaud. But the big questions lie in the final third.
Attacking dilemmas
It looks certain Claudio Braga will still be in position to face Graz despite growing speculation surrounding the player of the year. Whether the Portuguese starts alongside another frontman, perhaps Landry Kabore who scored in the win over Kilmarnock on Friday morning, or leads the line himself remains to be seen.
Summer signing Calvin Miller comes into contention after looking lively in the defeat to Livingston. Vrancken plans to move the ex-Falkirk winger back onto the flank after a runout in the number 10 position in West Lothian. But does that come at the expense of Alexandros Kyziridis? And who goes right? Could Josh McPake, who had a quieter evening against Livi than his fellow new start, come in there? Amadou Ba-Sy and Sabri Guendouz could also come into the equation. And do not forget Rogers Mato, who flattered to deceive against Livi, and Sabah Kerjota.
Hearts certainly created enough against the Lions but lacked a finishing touch — something Vrancken never missed at full-time. Miller laid chances on a plate for Braga and Tom Renaud only for both to be saved comfortably by Jerome Prior. Miller himself was denied by an outrageous goalie clearance from Jack Wilkie before Prior denied the ex-Bairn after the break. Elton Kabangu then screwed a one-on-one wide late in the game as Hearts chased a leveller.
Their goal, when it did arrive just before the break, was the result of an impressive sweeping move as McPake rolled the ball to Renaud whose neat pass into Miller saw the winger turn and force a save from Prior with Renaud slotting home the rebound.
Finding rhythm and shooting boots
Promising? Yes. But Vrancken knows his players must find their rhythm — and more importantly their shooting boots — if they are to carry a threat when the first whistle blows on the Champions League qualifier. He said: "Yeah, we create a lot of chances against Livingston. You see them still thinking about things. So it has to be now more natural."
"Against Kilmarnock we played a really, really strong first half. So that was really pleasing to see. Against Livingston it would give a better feeling for the players to come into it when you score one or two in the first half. Then it gives more confidence and you have more the flow. So that would be a better feeling. Not for me but for the players on the pitch at the moment to do their thing. It's a pity. But that's what our preparation is for."
