A place in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup is already assured for Hearts.
Wins over Peterhead, Cove Rangers and Stirling Albion, scoring a total of seven goals and conceding none means they’ll be in the draw after their final fixture against Inverness CT.
Three points will make sure Robbie Neilson ’s side are seeded for the next round alongside Rangers, Celtic, Hibs, Aberdeen and the other group winners.
Then attention can turn to next Saturday’s Premiership opener against Celtic at Tynecastle.
With that game in mind, Neilson has confirmed he’ll make some changes but nothing wholesale as he wants to ensure his players are ready for the big one next week.
Liam Boyce is bang in form but Armand Gnanduillet could do with game time after coming back from injury.
Youngster Finlay Pollock staking his claim for a start after his first senior goal at Forthbank in midweek.
So he could line up in midfield while Neilson may rotate Peter Haring after the Austrian played a good amount of minutes over the previous week.
Craig Gordon has reached double figures in his run of consecutive clean sheets so expect him to get the chance to extend that further against the Highlanders.
Predicted Hearts team: Gordon, Souttar, Halkett, Kingsley, M Smith, Halliday, Pollock, Cochrane, Ginnelly, Mackay-Steven, Gnanduillet.
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