Steven Naismith is supportive of the format changes in European football that Heart of Midlothian will encounter next season.

As things stand, Hearts will enter the Europa League play-off for the second time in three seasons and are guaranteed at least eight matches in Europe. Whether they progress to the Europa League or Conference League it will not be a group stage but a league phase. They will play eight or six games respectively, all against different opposition.

There is also a better chance of reaching the knockout stages with teams no longer dropping down from the Champions League into the Europa League and Europa League to Conference League as they did previously after the group stage.

READ MORE: Hearts in Europe: Finances, opponents, and why Conference League could be best

"I like it," Naismith said of the format. "I didn't think there was a lot wrong with the old one but I do like the changes. It gives you different ties, it's not home and away.

"It's probably a bit more work for us in terms of prep and understanding who you are going to play, but I like it."

Hearts could avoid the Europa League play-off entirely and advance to the league phase if Borussia Dortmund win the Champions League and Atalanta finish outside the top four in Serie A following their success in the Europa League final on Wednesday night.

READ MORE: How Hearts season was one of time: Naismith, falling apart, Shankland, feats

"I think every season come March time there are different scenarios of what could happen," was Naismith's take on the possibility. "What will happen, will happen. As players and coaches, you want to be involved in the biggest tournament you can be. For us, that's the Europa League. If we're in that, then that's brilliant. No matter what happens, we have the opportunity to get in there.

"Having the fallback of the Conference League is a good one to have. The biggest thing is we've got European football for the first half of the season. We will look forward to the challenges."