Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken has insisted his side will go all in to rescue their last chance at grabbing European league phase football against Rapid Vienna.
With a £5m Conference League jackpot awaiting the winner of the play-off, Vrancken knows victory in tonight's first leg at Tynecastle could go a long way to securing the money-spinning spot - and boosting his transfer kitty.
Heavy qualifying defeats to Sturm Graz and Benfica in the Champions League and Europa League qualifiers over the last four weeks have dented Vrancken's start to life in Gorgie.
Confidence after home wins
But after securing two wins and a draw in three consecutive home games last week, the Belgian is confident his side are now ready to take the next step in Europe and secure his own first chance to manage in the league phase.
Vrancken reckons it will take a near perfect performance. But with a rammed Tynecastle set to roar them on, he has urged his side to make a fast start in the home leg.
He said: "That would be great, for sure. When you play at home, you hope that you can take a lead, but it's still two legs and it's still football.
"So we have to know it's two legs, but for our own fans, we want to show something and be competitive. And also not only be competitive, but try to have a result.
"We have to have our level and show the quality there. Then we can for sure bring something on the pitch tomorrow and show something to the fans.
"It's our last chance to reach the league phase so we have to go all in to try to get there.
"We still have lessons to learn and situations. It's going to be step by step, but you'll see improvements.
"But now in these two legs, it has to be almost perfect to get to the league phase."
Financial boost and transfer funds
Hearts made over £5m from their last outing in the Conference League main phase two years ago.
And with Hearts closing in on a deal for Rhode Island striker JJ Williams, Vrancken knows that would be a further boost to his transfer funds.
He said: "Yes, for sure, it's all related. The window is still open until the beginning of September so we have to see what happens with our players and see what we can do to make our squad better.
"Qualification is very important. Everybody wants to play in Europe in those league phases.
"Every coach, every player wants to be part of it and for the club it's also important.
"Also financially, this is something for other people.
"But the sportive side of it, every player, every coach wants to play as far as possible in Europe."
Injury doubts and fan plea
Harry Milne is a serious doubt for the first leg but Laurent Mendy could be passed fit after training. Both have missed the last three games with muscle injuries.
Vrancken has sent a passionate plea for fans to raise the roof and roar his side on to a famous result.
He urged supporters: "Do the same. We can't complain about the fans, they are also in away games, they are fully supportive and again also in our way of playing now, they are fully supportive.
"You feel it in the games and when we show it on the pitch they will back us up again and they will also be there pushing us to make this extra step and that's what we need, especially at Tynecastle and to go to Vienna next week.
"Against Benfica, we showed some good things and the fans were directly behind it and showed some good support and atmosphere.
"So we cannot expect more. We have to show tomorrow from the first second what we want to do and how we want to do it and show the fans that we really want it and then they will back us up during the whole game and that's the energy and synergy we want to create to go through to the league phase."
