The Hearts scouting mission from inside Rosenborg dressing room as 3 players given danger man status

It's do-or-die for Hearts in the Europa Conference League as they prepare to do battle with Rosenborg at Tynecastle, but the Norwegians have come prepared.

Last week's 2-1 defeat at the Lerkendal Stadium in Trondheim kept the door open for Hearts to produce what would be a stunning turnaround in Gorgie on Thursday. Striker Lawrence Shankland was the hero to salvage a goal last week, but this week the Scotland cap has been the centre of transfer speculation with a move to Saudi Arabia. Yet Frankie McAvoy and Steven Naismith will know Shankland and the boys in maroon will need to be at their best to see off the Scandinavian giants.

Rosenborg shared on their social media a fly-on-the-wall documentary episode prior to the first leg that showed Svein Maalen, who heaped praise on their Conference League foes last week, instructing his players of the ones to watch. And top of the list was unsurprisingly Shankland, who in a graphic displayed in the home end's locker room described as "Smart player, moves around a lot. Good at finding positions in the box, good link up player," yet the scouting mission did describe the 28-year-old as "Not very fast."

Japanese attacker Yutaro Oda was another named in the three man list as the 22-year-old was pinpointed as "quick and creative." The graphic also described the winger as "Likes to dribble and run past the opponent. They often try to set him up 1v1 to play to his strengths."

Meanwhile Alan Forrest, who was substituted off in the first leg was named and described as "good at finding space." It remains to be seen how effective the Norwegians scouting mission will be come kick-off under the lights at Tynecastle on Thursday.