Stakes are high for Hearts: Why visit for RFS means so much for Robbie Neilson and Co

It had been hoped that the previous Europa Conference League meeting with RFS would ignite a run of positivity in Hearts’ results.

Hearts scored three goals against Celtic at Tynecastle on Saturday but still ended up on the losing side.

The financial reward for that notable victory in Latvia was one cause for celebration, but it was the impetus it offered them for the remainder of the European group matches and as they headed back into domestic business, where they backed it up with a 3-0 triumph away to Motherwell – their only back-to-back wins this term – that really underlined the gravity of the achievement.

On Thursday, they are hoping the latest match-up with RFS can, once again, play a key role in elevating fortunes.

Each win at this stage of the competition is worth more than £500,000 by the time the three point bonus, TV money, gate receipts and hospitality are all tallied up. While a victory may not be enough to keep them in the tournament, depending on results elsewhere over the last two round of fixtures, it is valuable seed money they can invest in booking their return and in bolstering the morale of Robbie Neilson’s men as they look to build on last weekend’s performance in the 4-3 defeat by Celtic, with a result against the Latvians ahead of Sunday’s trip to play Ross County.

Having tweaked formations to best utilise the dwindling body of players available to them, the upcoming period of matches could be key to this and next season’s ambitions. So far, despite winning just over a third of all of their Premiership matches this term, they have not lost touch with the sides circling the European spots – they are five points behind thrd-placed Aberdeen – and the target must be keeping in touch with the teams above them as they race towards the World Cup break, and the recovery time required to get many of their wounded fully mended and up to pace. That will then bolster them as they move towards the mid-season transfer window, where remaining vulnerabilities can be shored up before they attempt to flex some muscle throughout the remainder of the campaign.

Up first is the RFS match at Tynecastle. After that there are four league matches, against Ross County, Motherwell, a susceptible Rangers and then Livingston, with what is likely to be their UEFA swansong for this season, away to Istanbul Basaksehir, slung in between. And they have to go into all of them at full pelt, before getting the opportunity to draw breath while the attention turns to Qatar.

And, against Celtic, their performance indicated they may have settled on a formation and game style that best suits their depleted resources. Missing the likes of Craig Halkett and Kye Rowles, they faced up to Ange Postecoglou’s side in a 4-1-4-1 formation. It was the same set-up which proved fruitful in the Skonto Stadium the last time they played RFS, and when they bettered Motherwell a few days later.

Moreover, it made the best use of the players at his disposal, according to Neilson, who was happy to have a more balanced backline protected by the industry of a holding midfielder, as the remainder of the side were able to get forward. They scored twice against the Latvians, and mustered three goals against both Motherwell and Celtic as a consequence. And, the next few games are all about consequences, both immediate and longer term.