Hearts are beginning a demanding Champions League qualifying campaign after narrowly missing out on the Scottish Premiership title, with new head coach Wouter Vrancken urging the team to embrace the opportunity. The tie against Austrian side Sturm Graz is an early test of a substantially rebuilt squad and could set the tone for the season ahead.

Hearts have not played competitively for 67 days and came within minutes of their first league title in more than 60 years last season. Since then, captain Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin and former head coach Derek McInnes have joined Rangers, while Vrancken, 47, has overseen rapid recruitment; Hearts must negotiate three qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League league phase.