Mood in the Dundee United camp
After securing a hard-fought 0-0 Uefa Cup draw against MyPa 47 in Finland last Thursday night, the club will be confident of progress into the next stage of the competition. Despite only taking the one point from their opening two league matches - albeit tricky ones against Aberdeen and Celtic - the side looked comfortable in midweek and will continue their testing start this afternoon with what could be their toughest challenge yet.
The signing of David Fernandez should also give the side a lift, although he is unlikely to make anything more than a cameo appearance from the bench.
Mood in the Hearts camp
Top of the league, so not bad really. The start George Burley's side have made has come as something of a surprise, but now some are suggesting they can mount a credible challenge to the Old Firm duopoly. While it is too early to say for sure, the quality of player that Hearts have brought in certainly eclipses any other side outwith the top two and they will be expected to maintain their place at the summit today.
Dundee United defence v Hearts attack
While they looked solid in Finland, today's visitors will provide a much bigger test for United's defence. Gordon Chisholm is expected to revert to a back three with Garry Kenneth being brought in to counter the physical presence of the Hearts front men but he, David McCracken and Alan Archibald are in for a testing afternoon.
There are still doubts over the fitness of Edgaras Jankauskas but as last week's Edinburgh derby massacre showed, Burley's side are still an irresistible attacking force without him.
Can United contain Hearts' attack-minded midfield?
The key to Hearts' start has been their goalscoring prowess from midfield. Paul Hartley, Rudi Skacel and Saulius Mikoliunas have each scored twice and Chisholm will recall Derek McInnes to shore up his midfield. Alongside Grant Brebner and Mark Kerr, he will expect to curtail the forward thrusts of the attack.
The X Factor
While United should prove a tough test for Burley's side, their exertions in midweek should give the visitors the impetus as the game reaches its latter stages.
DUNDEE UNITED
Stillie Kenneth McCracken Archibald Wilson Kerr Brebner McInnes Robson Miller McIntyre
HEARTS
Jankauskas Bednar Skacel Brellier Hartley Mikoliunas McAllister Webster Pressley Neilson Gordon
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