This is maybe the most difficult predicted Heart of Midlothian line-up to do in recent times.
With defenders returning to action, Neil Critchley suddenly has options for a position that has been down to the bare bones.
Even still, the back three that was used at Celtic Park will likely be dropped for the visit to Tynecastle Park of Dundee United.
The visitors have secured their place in the top six following Saturday’s Scottish Premiership results. Those defeats for St Mirren and Motherwell mean Hearts can do the same with a win on Sunday.
A point would suit United and after successfully deploying a defensive approach for their 1-0 win at Tynecastle earlier in the season, they may very well do the same again.
Hearts could still take the game to their opponents with an attacking approach in a back three but expect the head coach to return to a four-man defence. An extra centre-back would be overkill.
Lewis Neilson has deputised well but, if fit enough to play from the start, either Craig Halkett or Jamie McCart could replace him and play alongside Michael Steinwender.
What Critchley does further forward is even more difficult to predict. With Cammy Devlin back, we may not see the diamond for this one, which suggests either a 4-2-3-1 or a return to the swashbuckling 4-2-4.
Either shape makes room for Blair Spittal to return but it leaves the season-long question of who is the best option on the right.
Musa Drammeh likes to play as an inside forward from there while still putting in a defensive shift. Sander Kartum is another candidate and could be preferred as the more likely option to unlock a deep defence or be a scoring threat from outside the box.
That would mean dropping one of the front three and, while Lawrence Shankland wasn’t at his best, it was a difficult afternoon for James Wilson last week and he could maybe do with a week or two on the bench.
