FC Thun and Hearts will both be chasing their first Conference League win of the season when they meet at the Visana Stadion on Thursday evening.
The hosts are still pointless after 1-0 defeats away at FC Twente on matchday one and at home to Hajduk Split a fortnight ago.
As for Hearts, they were agonisingly close to opening with a victory, only for Nordsjaelland to snatch a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle.
Wouter Vrancken’s side then lost 2-0 away at Trabzonspor on matchday two, despite a spirited display.
The Jam Tarts must now recover from Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Hibs in the Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden.
Thun, meanwhile, moved up to ninth place in the Swiss Super League after a thrilling 5-4 win away at Lausanne at the weekend.
How the bookies view it: Thun to triumph
Despite losing each of their opening two Conference League matches, FC Thun are 13/10 favourites with bet365.
A Hearts victory is trading at 19/10, while a share of the spoils at the Visana Stadion is available at 5/2.
Head to head: History book blank
Thursday’s clash will be the first meeting between Thun and Hearts. The Jam Tarts last faced Swiss opposition in the 2022/23 Europa League play-offs, losing 3-1 on aggregate to FC Zurich.
Players to watch: Lean on Labeau
With nine goals across his 18 appearances in all competitions this season, Thun striker Brighton Labeau looks terrific value to score anytime on Thursday evening at 7/4 with bet365.
Hearts set-piece specialist Stephen Kingsley looks worth a speculative punt to score from outside the box at 20/1 with bet365.
Predicted line-ups
Thun are expected to be without injured quintet Fabio Saiz, Louis Passavant, Mats Seiler, Marc Gutbub and Genis Montolio.
Hearts’ injury problems continue to mount, with Calvin Miller and Tomas Magnusson joining an already lengthy casualty list after suffering a knee injury and concussion respectively against Hibs on Sunday. Christian Borchgrevink, Craig Halkett, Harry Milne, Oisin McEntee, Blair Spittal, Tom Renaud, Ageu and Rogers Mato are also sidelined, while Yan Dhanda is unavailable as he has not been registered in Hearts’ Conference League squad.
Thun: Steffen; Mambwa, Bamert, Burki, Fehr; Maier, Zoukit, Kait, Reichmuth; Dursun, Labeau
Hearts: Reus; Altena, Fagan-Walcott, McCart, Kingsley; Mendy, Guendouz; Kerjota, Wilson, McPake; Braga
Anything else catch the eye?
With Hearts’ injury problems mounting, I’m keen to keep Thun onside in Thursday’s clash in Switzerland.
I’ll therefore dip into the Bet Builder market and back the hosts on the double chance alongside 1-4 goals at 10/11 with bet365.
That combination has landed in both of Hearts’ Conference League matches this term, as well as five of their six European qualifiers earlier this season.
GambleAware