Gary Mackay-Steven hopes to use the Premier Sports Cup to build momentum ahead of Hearts return to the Premiership.
The winger got on the scoresheet as Robbie Neilson's men opener their season with a win over Peterhead at Balmoor.
With the competitive season underway, the 30-year-old hopes to use the group stage as a warm-up for the league opener against Celtic.
He told Hearts TV: "All these games are important but you just keep building and getting your match sharpness, and work towards the way the gaffer wants to play.
"These games are a great test as well.
"You play different teams in different places, and we are leading up to some important games in the future.
"We take one game at a time and we want to get into a winning habit and today is the first day of that.
Having faced an up and down first six months at Tynecastle, Mackay-Steven is keen to make his mark regularly in the top flight.
He added: "I take it one game at a time, but I do always start the season with targets.
"I'm feeling good and pre-season went well so I've got some targets in my head, but it was just nice personally (to score) but the main thing is to help the team and do that for every game. "
