Heart of Midlothian go in search of just their sixth away win in European competition this century when they travel to Czechia to take on Viktoria Plzen on Thursday - but the Doosan Arena is not a venue where the visiting team often come away with a victory.

It is the first leg of the Europa League play-off round with eight games in the newly formatted league phase the prize on offer. The losers will drop into the Conference League.

Hearts are competing in Europe for the third season in a row for the first time in their history. Plzen on the other hand are European regulars. This is their 15th consecutive European campaign.

They have competed in the Champions League group stage on four occasions and the Europa League group stage four times. Last season was their first in the Conference League and they reached the quarter-final, losing to eventual finalists Fiorentina.

“They've got a way of playing, they've not changed too much from last season to this season," Steven Naismith said. "They've got some good quality players, some experienced players as well but they've got some good quality players that can hurt you.

“So we'll need to be on it. but I think the two European games we had last season will give us a good understanding of what it takes to be in Europe and also how to navigate your way through the games. It's slightly different than the domestic games but one that I believe we can go through."

To go through, Hearts will likely need a big away performance. One similar to FC Zurich two years ago would suffice in ensuring the team are still in the tie going into the second leg. To go one better, the team will need to draw on the spirit of Bordeaux, Braga and Basel.

Between the sticks for all four of those matches mentioned was Craig Gordon.

"We need to go there, stay in the tie and bring it back to Tynecastle with something to play for," he said.

"It takes heart and desire to defend your goal and stay in the match when you’re a long way from home and don’t have many of your own fans there. You have to fight for one another. That’s the most important thing before any game plans or tactics, it’s about us being 100 per cent there for each other. Do that and we’ll give ourselves a chance."

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Now, the task at hand is a big one. Viktoria Plzen don't lose many games at their Doosan Arena home in Europe.

Of their last 32 home fixtures in European competition they have lost just five times. Four of those defeats came against Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The only other time they lost during that period was in 2017 when the Romanian side FCSB won 4-1. 

Roma, Fiorentina, Sporting CP and Partizan Belgrade are amongst the teams who have failed to win in Plzen.

The Czechs warmed up for Thursday's match with a comprehensive 3-0 win in the 1.Liga against SK Dynamo Ceske Budejovice on Sunday afternoon. Manager Miroslav Koubek was able to rest six players from the team that defeated Kryvbas in the third-round qualifying encounter on Thursday. They have started the season strongly and are unbeaten in seven in all competitions.