Maroon Platoon heading North. 

Back to league business this weekend after the break for international matches saw Scotland's fast fading hopes of reaching the group stages of the European Championships hanging by a very thin thread.

In keeping with the international games, Heart of Lithuania visit Inverness on Saturday for a more sedate affair, yes folks, it's back to the bread and butter of the SPL.

Last time out Inverness kick started their season with a gutsy 2-1 defeat of Kilmarnock whilst Hearts were strolling to a comfortable Edinburgh derby win over Hibernian, a result that lifted Inverness into tenth place in the league and dropped Hibernian to the foot of the table.  Hearts meanwhile, enjoy a more familiar position in fourth spot.

Inverness boss Terry Butcher does not have his troubles to seek as a plethora of early season injuries has seen another two new faces added to the squad after an unbelievable sequence of events saw his squad devastated with one long term absentee after another.  With both wide midfielders Hayes and Doran suffering the same fate with shoulder injuries, Butcher has acquired the services of Wolverhampton's David Davis and Aidan Chippendale from Huddersfield Town, both on loans until January at least.  Both of these twenty year old's offer a bit of pace going forward and are eager to grab some first team action in the SPL.

Historically, Heart's hold the upper hand in this fixture winning four times out of nine in Inverness with the hosts only victory coming in september 2008 when Craig Brewster crashed home a superb late winner as Inverness won 2-1.  Dennis Wyness had earlier equalised after an Ian Black own goal had given Heart's the lead that day, but substitute player manager Brewster slammed home the winner in injury time as his volley exploded behind Banks in the Hearts goal.  Alan Morgan had provided the inch perfect cross for Brewster to acrobatically score the winner for bottom side Inverness,  that was our first points that season.

New Hearts boss Paulo Sergio reckons that Inverness are a physical side and don't play football the way he would like his own side to play.  That's rich with players like Ian Black in your squad who are not adverse to kicking anything that moves.  Strangely that endeared him to many of our fans, but the boot is on the other foot now and we know better than most how tenacious the wee fellow can be.  He is back after serving a two week ban for his red card at Motherwell, forcing him out of the Aberdeen and Kilmarnock games.  But Sergio reckons he is not an agressive player.........aye right Paulo.

Recent form and league positions would suggest that Hearts will be the favourites for this game, and history backs that up.  Inverness have only one win at home this season while Hearts are without a victory on their travels, but have two draws  and one defeat.  Both sides have scored six goals so far, but it's the defensive record of the Inverness back four that gives cause for concern, whereas Hearts have a steadier rearguard with Andy Webster settling back in nicely, and that makes it difficult for teams to get the better of Hearts as a unit.

Ones to watch:-

Inverness will have two new players on display in the shape of David Davis and Aiden Chippendale.  They are keen to have a go in the SPL and that could be enough to keep the locals happy.  Both are wide midfielders and have pace to trouble most defences so it will be interesting to see how they perform.

Gregory Tade has made his mark with the Inverness fans with his energy and endeavour being shown in abundance.  Last time out he added a magnificent headed goal to boost his confidence as an SPL player and the fans will be looking for more from the big striker.  He showed plenty of passion for the game after scoring as he pumped his chest and gestured into the stand for everyone to get behind the team.  More of the same today will be welcome.

Hearts have an abundance of talented players to choose from and one man who can certainly turn a game is Arvydas Novikovas.  The twenty year old Lithuanian international was on loan at Perth last season and has plenty to prove to new boss Paulo Sergio.  He can be a match winner and has plenty of technical ability allied with trickery and pace, definitely one to keep an eye on.

David Templeton is another tricky customer, and he's Scottish.  The youngster has been in tremendous form since joining Hearts from Stenhousemuir in January 2007 for £30,000.  He scored his first Hearts goal against Hamilton in 2010 and had been called into the Scotland u21 set up.  Glaswegian David, signed a three year deal at Tynecastle in March 2010.  Always a danger breaking forward at pace, he is another our back line will need to keep a close watch on.

Latest Team News

Inverness have their two deadline day loan signings fit and raring to go.  Davis and Chippendale could well be thrust straight into the action to replace the shoulder twins, Hayes and Doran as Butcher reshuffles the pack once more.  Greg Tansey and Billy McKay look likliest to be the first ones off the treatment table and could feature this weekend.  Less fortunate are  Cox, Proctor, Tudur-Jones, Gillet and Meekings.

Hearts are still without Kevin Kyle, Gary Glen and Calum Elliot with Marian Kello a doubt.  Good news for us about Kyle's absence as he has been a thorn in our side on numerous occasions and Calum Elliot also reserves his best for games against us.

tm4tj Prediction:- A fixture that we tend to struggle in and with only the one win in nine attempts not the sort of statistic that lends itself to a confidence booster for the home fans.  However, the seeds were sewn against Kilmarnock, and Hearts have struggled away from Tynecastle which might just work in our favour.  Our ever changing squads due to the horrendous injury problems so early in the season does not help the teams preparations, but the injection of new faces could be the spur needed to surprise the boys in maroon.  I will sit on the fence here and settle for a share of the points in a low scoring draw.  1-1 for me.