PRESSLEY: WE FEAR NO TEAM

SKIPPER Steven Pressley last night insisted Hearts fear no one ahead of their Champions League adventure.

The 32-year-old Scotland defender is in confident mood after Valdas Ivanauskas was confirmed as permanent gaffer.

The Lithuanian has been rewarded for leadingJambos to Scottish Cup glory and second in the SPL last term which earned a Champions League place.

The Jambos have spent a week in the south of France staying on Tynecastle supremo Vladimir Romanov's yacht.

They will step up preparations in Austria this week ahead of a potentially tricky second-round qualifying tie.

Bosnian outfit Siroki Brijeg or Shakhtyor from Belarus lie in wait for the first leg at Murrayfield on July 25 or 26.

But Pressley is adamant the Jambos will progress -no matter who they face. And he's already targeting a prolonged run.

Elvis said: "Either tie will be difficult going from past experience.

"We played Bosnian side Zeljeznicar in the UEFA Cup in 2003 and it was a real test.

"Although we won 2-0 on aggregate we I were lucky to escape with a 0-0 draw from the ' away leg.

"I'm sure the level of opposition will be higher quality than Zeljeznicar but Europe holds no fears for us."

Pressley is hoping for a season of stability at Hearts after Romanov's ruthless sackings of former managers George Burley and Graham Rix in a turbulent last campaign.

But he knows the Jambos v success has only made the rest of the SPL even more determined to bring them crashing back to earth.

Elvis expects a far more competitive league this term and said: "We have to try to top last season. We I must be looking to improve every year.

"But it's going to be a bigger test. We're seen as a real scalp now and the Old Firm will be stronger this ' season so we have to show our mettle -I believe we will.

"And I reckon it's anything I but a three-horse race for the SPL title.

"The exciting thing for Scottish football right now is the emergence of a number of teams.

"Tony Mowbray is doing a fantastic job over at Easter Road, Aberdeen finished the season really strongly I and remember, Craig ' Brewster is rebuilding his Dundee United side."

Taken from the Sunday Mail