Frankie McAvoy urges Hearts stars to grasp PAOK chance and become LEGENDS by writing momentous Gorgie history

Frankie McAvoy insists Hearts can complete their Herculean task against PAOK on Thursday night and become club legends.

The Jambos head coach is adamant a 2-1 first-leg deficit can be overturned in the baking heat of Greece and believes his side can also tame a fanatical home support inside the Toumba Stadium which is expected to be at its 27,800 capacity. Temperatures in Thessaloniki are set to hover around the 30-degree mark for the Europa Conference League clash with high humidity also a factor but McAvoy is adamant they can overcome the odds and land a group stage spot as he billed this evening's play-off, second-leg as a non-negotiable win.

He said: "We know it's going to be tough and we know the size of the task but the occasion itself will motivate us. We know we have to win and we are prepared to go as far as it takes. The Conference League group stage lie ahead for them. If they win this game, we are there. We are 90 minutes, 120 minutes and maybe penalties away from achieving that. It might be one of the best results in Hearts' European history. We need to remember there are 11 players stopping us trying to achieve what we want and be respectful of that. The players are as motivated as they can be.

"The pitch is bigger and it will be a lot warmer here than back home. Our training has taken that into account. We have to understand that you don't win a game in the first minute. It might take a full 90.

"We are prepared for every eventuality and the group knows what they have to do. We face a really tough opponent who showed what a good team they were at Tynecastle. I didn't think there was a lot in the game and I don't think the tie is dead and finished. Sometimes the underdog wins. We know we have to win and if