Conference League: Heart of Midlothian v Petrocub Hincesti

Venue: Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh Date: Thursday, 19 December Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Heart of Midlothian are preparing to play their 100th match in European football - and it could be one of the most consequential games in that century of fixtures.

The task is simple, on paper.

Beat Petrocub Hincesti - a team without a Conference League victory - at Tynecastle and Hearts will qualify for the play-off round in Europe's third-tier competition.

It would be the first time the club have played in the latter stages of a continental competition since 1989, when they reached the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup.

There is also the cash at stake for the club, about £500,000 in prize money alone, should Neil Critchley's men get the win they need.

And yet the excitement and buzz that should surround such a significant game has been strikingly absent.

Hearts' dismal defeat by Kilmarnock on Sunday, when they failed to score while playing against 10 men for 90 minutes, has deflated the hype.

The Edinburgh side are bottom of the Scottish Premiership after 17 games, with just three meagre wins to their name, and that has some whispering a relegation battle is now under way.

Beating Moldova's Petrocub feels like a must, then, for its own sake - but also for the impact it could have on Hearts' league form at a pivotal point in the season.

What do Hearts need to qualify?

Anything less than a victory on Thursday would be deemed unacceptable by a lot of Hearts fans, but it does not mean it is the only way the club can qualify for the play-off round.

A draw would take Hearts to seven points and give them a chance of staying above the elimination line, which is drawn after 24th place. Hearts are currently 23rd, with Istanbul Basaksehir a point behind in the final play-off berth.

Even though there are seven teams behind Hearts and Basaksehir who could potentially also reach seven points, there are teams above, such as Mlada Boleslav and Omonia, who would slip back if they lose.

The league is so tight it is pointless to predict who will end up where and, although very unlikely, in theory Hearts could progress even with a defeat.

For the players, though, the message is simple. The only way to guarantee Hearts will be in the draw for the play-off round, which takes place on Friday at 12:00 GMT in Nyon, is to win.

Should they succeed, Hearts will know their opponents will be one of two teams.

That is because Uefa has deployed a bracket system based on league position to incentivise finishing as high as possible.

For example, if Hearts finish in 23rd place, they will face either the club finishing in ninth or 10th, with the draw determining which one.

The seeded teams - those finishing from ninth to 16th - will play the second leg at home.

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