Steven Naismith plots Hearts horses for courses approach as PAOK become priority after Partick rout

Steven Naismith insists it'll be horses for courses as Hearts attempt to balance domestic challenges with European exertions.

The Jambos technical director was pleased with a more than comfortable Viaplay League Cup second round 4-0 romp over Partick Thistle with PAOK arriving for a Europa Conference League first-round play-off tie on Thursday.

There were six changes from the side which saw off Rosenborg last midweek and Naismith is adamant he'll shuffle the decks yet again when the Greeks come to Tynecastle. He said: "We have recruited players we believe can come in. The reason they have come in today is not just because they didn’t play in the previous game. This game suited a lot of the players who did come in. Each game is different so what we need on Thursday is different to what we will need next Sunday and that will be different from the following Thursday.

So, everybody is starting to understand. It is not that there is one stronger team over the other. There are different games for different players and today the guys who came in brought energy, and hard work, and, especially in the first half, when we won the ball back, we were in good positions and we very rarely gave up an opportunity for them to attack us. They are a team that have shown that they have good quality in possession. That was a pleasing aspect of the game."

Naismith was also adamant his side will adopt an attacking approach when PAOK pitch up in Gorgie. He said: "They are a really good team with loads of threats going forward so we will need to defend really well. We will need to be solid.

"I consistently say that we must have a threat in this tie and I think we will have a threat. Players have come in today and scored some good goals and to go