Robbie Neilson insists Hearts are ready to take the fight to Fiorentina in a bid to ignite their campaigns at home and abroad.
The Jambos boss believes the warning from a 10-man 4-0 weekend hammering from Rangers must also be heeded if they're to shock the struggling Serie A outfit and cement second spot in their Europa Conference League qualification Group A. Cammy Devlin's red card against the Light Blues proved a critical factor during Saturday's defeat but as Fiorentina arrive at Tynecastle on Thursday night on the back of only one win on their last ten outings, Neilson is adamant discipline will be key as he urged his side to adopt a front-foot approach.
He said: "We have to respect a Serie A team coming to Tynecastle but we also have to believe we can take the game to them. I believe that here, with 20,000 fans behind us under the floodlights, we have to take the game to the opposition. But we also have to be mindful of the real quality they have in their team.
"We were hugely disappointed with the outcome at the weekend and the biggest learning curve for us is making sure we keep 11 players on the pitch when you play against top teams like Rangers, like Fiorentina. You have to keep your full team on the pitch, we didn’t do that and the game ran away from us. That’s done and dusted and we have an opportunity to put it right on Thursday night.
"Fiorentina have had a difficult start to their season but they would probably look at us as well and say the same thing. It's two teams who will have this opportunity tomorrow night to kick start their seasons.
Neilson revealed he's a well versed student of Italian football and he's refusing to be fooled by Fiorentina's recent form which also leaves them at the foot of Group A and without a win after two games. A 4-0 home loss for Hearts to Turkish cracks Istanbul Basaksehir was followed with a 2-0 success over Latvians Rigas FS in Riga and Neilson knows a win over the Serie A this evening can become the catalyst to progress from their group.
He said: "Italian football has changed quite a bit in the last number of years. It has gone from catenaccio sitting in and defending to real all-out pressing and aggression. It's really exciting to watch.
"We need to find a way to combat that. Hopefully we have found it. We've been working on it and hopefully we can take something from the game.
"We've watched a number of the Serie A games and they have been pretty tight. A goal here or there. When they played Riga at home they dominated and probably could have won 4 or 5-0, ended up taking the draw. I believe Istanbul will run away with the group because they are a top team
"It's a massive game for the football club. To have a very famous Serie A team coming to Tynecastle under the lights for European football is huge for us. We know we have to bring our best game and hope Fiorentina don't bring theirs. Then it gives us a chance.
"We are really looking forward to the game. It's a great spectacle for us and one we are excited about."
A packed Tynecastle will provide a platform for Hearts to try and deliver a result which would rank in the higher echelons of any they've achieved in Europe but Neilson added the caveat that defeat wouldn't derail their Conference League hopes.
He said: "No, I don't think so. We are sitting in a good position with three points already and we still have a number of games left. It's a game we are looking forward to. We would like to take three points but we understand it's going to be a very difficult game.
"I think our win in Riga was hugely important. It's been a long time since we won a European game, especially away from home. To pick up three points in the section was massive. It gives us a real lift going into this game. We believe we can compete at this level.
"The players have to bring energy to the stadium and the fans bring energy to the pitch. Under the floodlights in a European game, I think it will be working both ways. It will be a great atmosphere. We know we have to bring energy and workrate but I expected Fiorentina to do exactly the same. I think it will be an excellent game."
Hearts will again be without the injured Craig Halkett. The defender continues to work back to fitness from a hamstring strain but won't feature against the Italians.
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