"Horrible."

If there is one word to describe what Neil Critchley wants Tynecastle Park to be when Heart of Midlothian host Heidenheim, or anyone for that matter, it is "horrible".

Speak to fans of the club and that word will likely feature high up on what they want the club's home to be like for opposing teams. 

When it is "horrible" it can harnessed positively and be used as a huge advantage. No matter the opponent, no matter the individual, there are times when it can play its part in success.

"We want this to be a hostile, intimidating atmosphere where no one wants to come here and play," Critchley said. "Horrible.

"So, Tynie will be on fire Thursday night and I hope it's not a nice experience for our opponents who are coming in."

The Germans will be the second opponents at Tynecastle Park in the Conference League league phase, following Cypriot outfit Omonia Nicosia.

Hearts overran the men from Cyprus last month, taking a 2-0 first-half lead and then seeing it out.

The challenge from Heidenheim will be different. Critchley expects a more physical, fast, and direct team. It will pose different problems and challenges for his Hearts side. 

Even though they are "not in a great moment", the Hearts boss is fully aware of "the capabilities of the players on the pitch".

"A very strong mentality," he said when asked what his team need for success on Thursday. "We're going to have to be fully concentrated and focused for that, and I know that's quite an obvious thing to say for the whole game. I think Heidenheim, because they're used to winning games and having success, they know how to manage games very well, winning or losing.

"They have a maturity in how they play the game. We have to make sure that, yes, we want to play with emotion, we want to play with intensity, we want to get the supporters behind us, but also we have to manage periods of the game. Like we did against Omonia, we started very well, but in the second half Omonia showed their quality and we had to make sure we managed that period of the game without the ball, and we did that very well.

"Playing in the German league, you know how physically demanding that league is, so we're going to have to compete very well in duels and make sure we match their aggression and intensity because the German teams are well renowned for especially counter-attacking at pace, so we're going to have to be good on the ball.  If we're going to lose the ball, then make sure we're losing it in certain areas of the pitch, because if you lose it in certain areas of the pitch, then they're very dangerous.

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"We know that they have certain traits. If you look at their goals conceded record this season, it's not many. They don't concede many goals. They're very hard to break down, very hard to play against, quite man-for-man orientated in the way that they press. Very dangerous on the counter-attack, as German teams are, very efficient.

"Their mentality is very good. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been as successful as they are. We know exactly who we're facing, what we're going to need to do, and if you want to win games of football at this level, you have to be good with the ball, you have to be good without the ball. It's as simple as that. You have to be good in all aspects, set pieces, everything. If you don't get the details right, then you get beat."

Critchley will come up against a head coach in Frank Schmidt who has been in his position since 2007.

The Heidenheim boss isn't anyone new to the man in the opposite dugout.

"Something that I think all coaches and managers would want is time," he said. "The head coach at Heidenheim has obviously had that, and rightly so, because if you look at their journey, it's quite remarkable really, where they've come from and where they are now. It's been an unbelievable journey.

"I watched a documentary, it must have been about 10 years ago now, and I'm pretty sure Frank Schmidt was on that. It was following four managers that were in the background and Heidenheim were one of the teams. He was on this documentary that I watched, which was really enjoyable because it showed you what the journey of the club was on and where they were, and where they were trying to get to.

"To be meeting 10 years later, it shows you that football is a small world and what a fantastic job he's done. He's had time, but he's been successful."

Come Thursday night, Hearts will be looking to follow in the footsteps of sides in the club's past who have recorded impressive results against German opposition. Lokomotive Leipzig, Hamburg and...

"Bayern Munich."

Critchley is aware.

“Ian Ferguson, is it? Hopefully, someone can score a similar type of goal for us on Thursday night and be remembered for a very, very long time."