Heart of Midlothian are back in action tonight following the international break as they host league leaders Celtic at Tynecastle Park in the Scottish Premiership.

It is set to be a raucous evening in Gorgie with an unusual Saturday 7.45pm kick-off. 

"With it being in the evening under the lights, it's been cold this week," Neil Critchley noted, "hopefully we can generate a bit of warmth and a bit of passion in the cauldron at Tynecastle and hopefully that plays to our benefit."

The Hearts head coach has been able to reflect on his first seven games in charge at Tynecastle Park during the break and held a debrief on Tuesday. He declared himself pleased with the reaction he has had from players since taking over but admitted there is still plenty of work to do. That includes getting better in both boxes.

Hearts will need to be at their very best at both ends of the park to walk away with three points against Brendan Rodgers' side. After all, they are, by far, the best team in the league. 

The good news for Hearts fans is that under Critchley the team have played a style that can disrupt Celtic, especially at Tynecastle. It was seen in the first half of the Conference League games against Omonia Nicosia and Heidenheim. A similar style is required against Celtic. When the opportunity presents itself, go hunting. When it doesn't, retreat and sit in a solid shape, and when possession is won, move swiftly up the park.

On paper, it seems quite easy to pick eight of the starting XI. 

Craig Gordon between the sticks, hopefully back to full fitness following an illness during the week. Frankie Kent, Kye Rowles and James Penrice as three of the back four. Malachi Boateng and Beni Baningime in midfield. Blair Spittal and Lawrence Shankland as two reference points in attack. 

But what about the other three?

I like Scott McIntosh's suggestion on the above video about playing narrow and bringing in one of Jorge Grant or more likely Cammy Devlin in midfield with Spittal and Shankland off of Kenneth Vargas.

The Costa Rican's presence will be an interesting one. If he's available, I'd play him, as I wrote earlier this week. Following his comments during the international break he could feel he has a point to prove and will be raring to go. However, a delayed return could be an issue. 

(Image: Hearts Standard) Yutaro Oda could come back into the squad but it is hard to see him starting a game of such magnitude having only returned and not trained the full week.

If Vargas doesn't play, it could see Alan Forrest and Yan Dhanda play either side of Spittal behind Shankland. It would also allow Critchley to play a hybrid system of a back three and back four with Forrest moving into a wing-back role at times.

It would be remiss not to mention Musa Drammeh. There are a lot of fans keen for the Spaniard to be given a run having worked his way into Critchley's plans and scored a double in the recent bounce game. But is he ready to start against Celtic and wouldn't he be better used off the bench as an impact sub, a chaos factor? 

As for right-back, if the pattern continues, Daniel Oyegoke will start with Adam Forrester used against Cercle Brugge.

Roll on 6.30pm when the line-up drops...