Heart of Midlothian head north to the City of Discovery later today as they look to secure their first win of the Scottish Premiership campaign after the opening day draw with Rangers at Tynecastle Park.

It is the calm before the storm. Steven Naismith has said the first few weeks of the season are different to what the team will face in the coming months with there being only one game per week. Hearts will head to Falkirk next weekend for the Premier Sports Cup but then comes Europe.

It will perhaps have an impact on the Hearts head coach when choosing his starting XI for this afternoon's match. Or, more accurately, less of an impact. Players will not have to be rotated as much as they will further down the line.

With that in mind, I could see a scenario where Naismith decides to change formation but makes only minor tweaks to his starting XI for the challenge of Dundee.

 (Image: BeFunky)

Now, looking at the above there will be plenty of fans who may view it as having too many defensive players. Of it being too defensive. Especially after Hearts impressed with a back four against Rangers.

There is certainly merit in keeping the same formation and trying to assert their playing style on the home side, pushing back their wing-backs and dominating possession and territory. But no team has scored more goals at the start of the season than Dundee - yes, 13 of those came against Inverness CT and Bonnyrigg - and they demonstrated that capacity against their city rivals in the derby last week to kick of their league season.

Dundee have potentially two starting forwards in Simon Murray and Curtis Main that have caused the Hearts defence issues in the past, namely Kye Rowles. Both are physical, mobile and good at exploiting space down the flanks and in behind. Going to a three at the back provides more protection. It puts Frankie Kent in an ideal position to be that last man, sweeping up and enforcing.

And it's not just the front pairing for Dundee. Lyall Cameron and Luke McCowan have shown against Hearts their capacity at breaking forward from midfield with their energy and quality on the ball.

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Malachi Boateng gives Hearts a No.6 and a presence at the base of the midfield when out of possession and someone assured with the ball in building up. Something Tony Docherty pinpointed when asked about him earlier this week.

It would be extremely harsh to drop either of Cammy Devlin or Jorge Grant but the former provides the team with an abundance of energy and Boateng gives him freedom, to an extent, to go hunting.

The front three explain themselves. Without Joe Shaughnessy Dundee are missing their totemic defensive presence. Kenneth Vargas has the capacity to really trouble the Dundee defence and open up space for Lawrence Shankland.

Predicted XI: Clark; Kingsley, Kent, Rowles; Taylor, Devlin, Boateng, Penrice; Dhanda; Shankland, Vargas.