Heart of Midlothian make the short trip to Airdrie on Sunday on Scottish Cup duty and although the men in maroon will go into the contest as the favourites, they will need to be wary of the threat posed by Rhys McCabe's free-flowing side.
Airdrieonians' player/manager has gained a lot of plaudits for the forward-thinking style of play he has instilled in the Diamonds - with Steven Naismith chief among his former Rangers team-mate's admirers - and the cup tie has all the hallmarks of a potential banana skin.
So, how should Naismith set up his team to give them the best chance of progression to the next round? Are there any selection headaches for the Hearts head coach to solve, and who deserves a start at the Excelsior Stadium?
Joel Sked and James Cairney talk us through their predicted line-ups below.
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Joel Sked
Steven Naismith has plenty to consider when selecting his XI to face Aidrieonians. Both in terms of shape and personnel. Take the defence for example. Nathaniel Atkinson and Kye Rowles have returned from Asian Cup duty meaning the options are: Atkinson, Lembikisa, Frankie Kent, Craig Halkett, Rowles, Stephen Kingsley and Alex Cochrane.
A back three could allow for five of those seven to start. However, the team have started to make positive strides in the back four with more attacking width and threat higher up the park. Therefore I reckon it will be a 4-3-3 once more. Kingsley could drop out after being taken off after 75 minutes. Why risk him with Motherwell around the corner when Rowles can come back in or Halkett? With Atkinson and Rowles having returned Sunday may be the time to get them back into the starting XI.
They could be joined by Cammy Devlin. He was back in the squad against St Johnstone and made good time on his recovery from injury. With Calem Nieuwenhof undertaking a mountain of work in the win over Saints, it may be optimal for him to be given something of a rest. I'd also stick with Scott Fraser to try to get him further up to speed with what is needed and expected of him within the Hearts system.
And there is the usual switch in the front three with Yutaro Oda coming in for Kenneth Vargas.
Then perhaps the big change. Craig Gordon, fresh from signing a contract extension, should start between the sticks having done so in the previous round. It is an ideal opportunity for him to be given minutes.
Now, that would represent five changes, including three players who have not played for the team in over a month, even more in Devlin's case. Would Naismith want to drop the Aussie trio into a Scottish Cup clash against an improving Championship side?
Predicted line-up: Gordon; Atkinson, Kent, Rowles, Cochrane; Baningime, Devlin, Fraser; Shankland, Forrest, Oda.
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James Cairney
We’ve seen Naismith opt for a back four in recent weeks but I suspect we’ll see the 3-5-2 brought back in for this one. Airdrie press aggressively high up the park, and I think the back three, combined with Beni Baningime in the No.6 position, provides Hearts with more options and passing lanes when building out from the back. Beating the press will be key for the men in maroon, and I feel the 3-5-2 gives Hearts a better chance of doing just that.
I also think we’ll see Craig Gordon come back into the starting line-up. The veteran goalkeeper, who signed a one-year contract extension earlier in the week, started in goal in the previous round against The Spartans, and it would come as little surprise if Naismith plans on using Gordon as the cup goalkeeper between now and the end of the season.
I think we’ll see Craig Halkett come back into the team to join Stephen Kingsley and Frankie Kent in the back three, with Dexter Lembikisa and Alex Cochrane on either flank. With Kye Rowles and Nathaniel Atkinson back in amongst the group for Friday’s training session, the Aussie duo are in contention for a start but I suspect this match comes a little too soon for both of them. They may have to settle for a place on the bench.
Baningime’s press-resistant abilities make him the ideal candidate to sit at the base of midfield on Sunday, while Calem Nieuwenhof is surely deserving of another start after his encouraging showing against St Johnstone on Wednesday night. That leaves just the playmaker role to fill, and I think we’ll see Scott Fraser given the nod. The on-loan Charlton midfielder was handed his first start for Hearts at McDiarmid Park and although he looked a little rusty and will need to offer more out of possession, the 28-year-old needs more game time to get fully up to speed.
It's safe to assume that Lawrence Shankland will lead the line in attack, and I expect he’ll be partnered by his former Ayr United team-mate Alan Forrest. The versatile attacker has looked his best when playing at left wing in recent weeks and although he’s probably more suited to that role, Forrest is simply undroppable at present.
Predicted line-up: Gordon; Kent, Halkett, Kingsley; Baningime; Lembikisa, Nieuwenhof, Fraser, Cochrane; Shankland, Forrest.
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