STEVEN PRESSLEY today revealed Hearts are working harder than ever in pre-season training to ensure they don't blow a chance of playing in the Champions League.

The Tynecastle squad have been training on a luxury liner off the south coast of France this week as they bid to step up their fitness regime ahead of next month's Champions League qualifiers.

Far from relaxing on board, the players have been put through gruelling daily training sessions to ensure they are fully prepared to face either NK Siroki Brijeg from Bosnia or Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus on 26 July.

With just weeks to prepare, skipper Pressley insisted they won't let last year's hard work go to waste. He admitted: "We're tired because it has been very intense but we are well aware that we have only got until 26 July to be fully prepared. It has been intense, but it has also been very well structured and I think that we are all benefiting greatly from it.

"We worked for 38 games last season, and it was a gruelling season, to give ourselves the opportunity to play in the Champions League and that is why we are working so hard now.

"We need to make sure that all of the hard work that we put in last season wasn't all for nothing.

"Being on the boat certainly break the monotony of normal pre-season training. Sometime, in normal training, when you are at the same training facility every day it can be quite draining on the mind.

"We are working equally as hard on the boat as we would in normal training, but the there are different surroundings every day so that really freshens things up."

No matter how prepared the Hearts squad are for the crucial Champions League double-header though, Pressley urged caution.

While the Jambos are favourites to progress, the Tynecastle skipper warned that their opponents, no matter who they are, will make it tough.

The skipper said: "In terms of their international sides, I would think that we would all be on a par, although Bosnia have probably fared a little better in recent times.

"As for club sides, I would imagine, I would hope, that we have done a bit better than them in European competition.

"From experience of playing against a Bosnian side in the UEFA Cup a couple of years ago though, I know that it will be an extremely tough game.

"Although we won that match 2-0 comfortably at home, we struggled in the away leg and that should make everyone aware that they are going to be two very good teams. Both of the teams we could face are in the middle of their domestic seasons and that will mean that they will be sharp and fit and fully prepared. We have to make sure that we are too."

Meanwhile, Hearts' potential Champions League second qualifying round opponents Shakhtyor Soligorsk were in action last night thrashing Dnepr-Transmash 4-1 at home in the Belarussian Premier League.

Taken from the Scotsman