Heart of Midlothian will arrive in Baku this evening ahead of their clash with Dinamo Minsk on Thursday night in the newly formatted Conference League.

The Azerbaijani capital is further west than Baghdad but it won’t host the league phase encounter. The game will be played at the Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium in Sumqayit, an hour and 20 north of Baku, behind closed doors due to UEFA sanctions on Belarussian sides. 

As Hearts Standard reported following the draw, a category four stadium in a city that would prevent possible fixture clashes was required after Minsk had played their games in a category three stadium in Hungary. 

In turn Hearts fans have been punished, unable to attend a game that is the furthest away from Tynecastle Park the club have played a competitive fixture in their history. And, potentially, the first win of the season at the 11th time of asking.

Baku would have presented a very cool European away trip for the supporters, giving them the excuse to visit a country that few would consider a holiday destination. It’s a city that has invested a lot of money in infrastructure. There is plenty of hustle and bustle, and many interesting cultural settings, including the maze-like Old City, plus the alcohol is cheap and the weather is very warm which always helps. 

Both clubs will host a press conference on Wednesday evening which Hearts Standard will attend at the Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium. Interim head coach Liam Fox and a player will speak to the media at 8.15pm local time and the team will train on the pitch at 8.45pm.

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It is the same time they will kick off on Thursday night (5.45pm back home) with the temperature expected to be high teens. Fans will be able to watch the match live on TNT Sports 3 with build up beginning at 5pm.

Fox had planned to watch Dinamo Minsk a number of times following the draw with Ross County on Saturday, adding to the work that has already been done on the opponents from the previous management team and analysis department.

Minsk currently sit second on the Belarussian Premier Division, three points off top following 20 matches but have three games in hand. Nigerian forward Raymond Adeola is their top scorer with five goals.