Heart of Midlothian will head west looking to continue their fine start to the campaign when they face St Mirren at the SMiSA Stadium on Saturday afternoon with a place in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at stake.
Under Derek McInnes, Hearts have been flawless with four group stage victories followed by wins in the first two games of the Scottish Premiership season.
The mood amongst the squad, management team and support can be described as positively buoyant and there is no shortage of confidence. McInnes has not looked to play down the positive opening.
“It's a start, but it's a good start," he said. "We're not going to underplay it. Why should we? It's a good start. But we're well aware that it can easily change a club at Hearts and you've just got to try and stay on it."
St Mirren, despite a mixed start to their season, pose a very difficult challenge. There will be no one travelling to Paisley underestimating the threat of Stephen Robinson’s Buddies.
Everyone know what you are going to get from St Mirren. A 5-3-2 that can quickly transition into a 3-5-2. They are one of the best teams in the league at pressing opponents. Their back three is like a wall flanked by full-backs who are industrious and provide width. Their midfield three is full of energy, plus the looming presence of Killian Phillips, and then a quick and physical front pairing.
Trying to do similar for Hearts is not as straightforward, even if McInnes has only made one change between the first two league games, keeping a 3-5-2 shape.
It is important to look at the shape before analysing the personnel questions. In the last two seasons with Kilmarnock, McInnes played 4-4-2 at St Mirren. He has an incredible record in Paisley with four defeats in 40, albeit the most recent was a 5-1 shellacking toward the end of the season.
Hearts certainly can go to a back four and it is a system that will likely become more prominent as the season progresses. All four wingers featured in the bounce game against Ross County during the week. Alexandros Kyziridis impressed, fellow arrivals Sabah Kerjota and Pierre Landry Kabore got some important minutes and Alan Forrest came off the bench after starting at wing-back against Dundee United.
There is also the ability to play Blair Spittal in a wide role as he did last season and has at times this campaign.
Then there is the big question around right-back. Christian Borchgrevink is out injured and Adam Forrester has returned from his cooperation loan - he’d not be able to play for St Johnstone this weekend anyway having featured for Hearts in the League Cup already.
However, if McInnes goes with a back four, it is hard to look past Michael Steinwender. The Austrian centre-back has shown himself capable there so far this season. He provides pace and plenty of ability and he gives Hearts a greater aerial presence.
"He's happy to do it because the thing he's got is he's really mobile, really quick, really comfortable in wide areas," McInnes explained.
"When he plays as an outside centre back anyway, nobody's going to run him in that channel. He's comfortable and he's got really good mobility to do that."
In addition, he can play as a supporting or defensive full-back, shuffling across to make it a three, allowing Harry Milne to push up. That balance would be helped if Spittal played in front of Milne, drifting in, and Kyziridis started on the right.
Cammy Devlin and Oisin McEntee give Hearts plenty of legs in the middle of the pitch.
Elsewhere, it would likely mean Frankie Kent drops to the bench if Craig Halkett is fine following an issue during the Dundee United game. Up front, Lawrence Shankland can be partnered with any number of options.
As for a back three, the question persists around right wing-back. Steinwender is not as suited to that role. Forrest struggled against United, which means Forrester is more likely to come into the equation.
An argument for Steinwender to play ahead of Kent on the right of a back three and Forrest at wing-back means McInnes could easily change to a 4-4-2 without having to make a substitution.
If it is a back three, there is an argument to go with a front three rather than a front two. As noted, McEntee and Devlin provide plenty of snap and energy in the middle of the pitch. A third addition in there would likely be something St Mirren are more comfortable with, as it could mean more possession in front of them.
Whereas a front three of Shankland, flanked by Claudio Braga and Kabore, asks a lot more questions. You have pace, physicality, work rate and a focal point. It could make it easier and more effective to stretch the St Mirren back line, even taking advantage of space behind the wing-backs.
McInnes has talked about Kabore playing in a front three and he would naturally cut in off the left. Braga enjoys the left-hand space where he can drift and combine with Milne.
Despite the right-side issue, there is still an abundance of positive choices for McInnes. And it is not an easy decision, nor is it easy trying to second-guess.
There has also been discussion amongst fans about the goalkeeping situation. Personally, I don’t think there is any need to drop Zander Clark. He’s had a poor match. It could have been costly but it wasn’t. I think it would be harsh to drop him after one performance.
He’s only a few games into the season and he’s had to manage an injury during parts of pre-season. It becomes a more prominent discussion should the mistakes or unease continue across a set of games.
