NK Siroki Brijeg represent the more difficult

The Bosnian title holders were seeded in the previous round and defeated Belarussian outfit Shakhytor Soligorsk 1-0 last night thanks to a Ronelle Gomes penalty to complete a 2-0 aggregate win.

Founded in 1948 the club have, since the early 1990s, established themselves as one of the main footballing forces in their home country. They play their football at the Pecara Stadium which has a capacity of just under 10,000 although the ground isn't expected to be filled to anywhere near capacity for the visit of the Jambos. However, the atmosphere awaiting the Tynecastle team is still likely to be relatively hostile as the club's fans, known as the Skripari - a tribute to those originally known by that name who resisted communist rule for several years after the Second World War - are fanatical.

Siroki Brijeg's head coach, Ivica Barbaric, commands a talented if modest squad, none of whom are internationalists. Their most reputable players are the Cameroonian William Etshu Tabi and Brazilian striker Celson Ricardo Borges de Jesus. Hearts have played in Bosnia once in recent years defeating Zeljeznicar in the UEFA Cup during Craig Levein's time in charge of the club.

And, while their clash with Siroki Brijeg is far from a formality, they will be expected to progress to the next round, particularly with the inside knowledge that having Bosnian internationalist Mirsad Beslija on their books will afford them.

Taken from the Scotsman