Hearts Europa League playoff round seedings revealed…

Hearts Europa League playoff round seedings revealed with Neil Lennon's Omonia Nicosia possible opponents

It’s nearly four months since Hearts started looking out their passports for Europe.

And today they’ll find out who stands between them and the group stage of the Europa League. The draw for the playoff round takes place at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon this afternoon with the Jambos one of six priority 1 teams in the hat. They’re safe in the knowledge that defeat at this stage will still see them drop into the group stage of the Europa Conference League, meaning they’ll be playing in continental competition until at least November.

But Robbie Neilson will be going all out to make it through in the more prestigious competition. His last foray into this tournament ended with an embarrassing defeat to Maltese minnows Birkirkara six years ago, and the Tynecastle boss will be keen to make up for that by guiding his club back to the group stage for the first time since 2004, when he featured at right back as Hearts were the first Scottish side to make it that far in what was then the UEFA Cup.

Depending on when they are drawn, Hearts can face a team priority 4 or priority 3 team. Three of the priority 1 clubs will be drawn against the three priority 1 sides, while the next three out of the hat will play against priority three names.

A look at the priority four teams throws up an intriguing tie and a potential Tynecastle reunion. Neil Lennon’ s Omonia Nicosia qualified for the Europa League after winning the Cypriot Cup last term. The former Celtic and Hibs boss has done battle with Hearts plenty of times over the years and would no doubt relish the chance to return to the capital with his side.

They are the only side outside of priority 1 who are definitely in the play-off round. Everyone else still has a third qualifying round tie to negotiate first, which means Hearts could face trips as close to home as the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, or as far flung as Macedonia or Turkey.